"Help for network administrators"--Cover.

Includes index.

Concepts and Theories of Server Load Balancing -- In the Beginning -- Evolution -- Other Technologies -- Concepts of Server Load Balancing -- Networking Basics -- Server Load Balancers -- Redundancy -- Provider Infrastructure -- Anatomy of a Server Load Balancer -- A Day in the Life of a Packet -- Direct Server Return -- Other SLB Methods -- Under the Hood -- Performance Metrics -- Connections Per Second -- Total Concurrent Connections -- Throughput -- Traffic Profiles -- The Wall -- Practice and Implementation of Server Load Balancing -- Introduction to Architecture -- Architectural Details -- Infrastructure -- Multipurpose Devices -- Cast of Characters -- Flat-Based SLB Network Architecture -- Implementation -- Traffic Flow -- Flat-Based Setup -- Security -- NAT-Based SLB Network Architecture -- Implementation -- Traffic Flow -- Network Configuration -- Security -- Configuring Server Load Balancers -- Alteon WebSystems -- Introduction to the CLI -- Security -- Flat-Based SLB -- NAT-Based SLB -- Redundancy -- Additional Features -- Cisco's CSS (Formerly ArrowPoint) Configuration Guide -- Introduction to the CLI -- Security -- Flat-Based SLB -- NAT-Based SLB -- Redundancy -- Syncing Configurations -- Administration Network -- Additional Features -- F5's BIG-IP -- Flat-Based SLB -- NAT-Based SLB -- Redundancy -- Foundry ServerIron Series -- Command Line Interface (CLI) -- Flat-Based SLB -- NAT-Based SLB -- Redundancy -- Quick Command Guide -- Direct Server Return Configuration -- Sample Configurations.

This book is a guide to the technology that is changing the way e- commerce sites, web infrastructures, and corporate networks are designed and implemented. Load balancing overcomes many of the scaling and flexibility obstacles that e-commerce sites and large corporate networks face today. "Server Load Balancing explains the concepts of load balancing and offers consistent terminology and practical guidance for planning and implementing it in most environments. It includes a configuration guide with diagrams and sample configurations for installing, configuring, and maintaining products from four major vendors: Alteon WebSystems, Cisco's CSS Series (formerly ArrowPoint), F5's BIG-IP, and the Foundry ServerIron series. By comparing several load balancing products, "Server Load Balancing enables a deeper understanding of the technology. No system administrator responsible for traffic management should be without this practical guide.