In situations where a single server or cluster can’t provide the throughput required for a critical application, load balancing of multiple servers offers a solution that not only enhances performance but, as a natural byproduct, provides fault tolerance by working around failed servers in a load-balanced farm. Firewalls and routers can also be set up in a load-balanced and fault-tolerant configuration, so that failures of a single device have limited impact on overall system functionality. It is far easier for users and organizations to manage the impacts of reduced resources or bandwidth than to deal with complete outages.
Load balancing solutions area well suited for many web based applications where the front-end web servers can utilize the services of a back-end clustered SQL Server data repository. Applications such as web-based eCommerce are ideal candidates for a load-balanced configuration. Load balancing can provide greatly improved operational reliability because failed servers are transparently removed from the resource farm, thus making such failures nearly invisible to users.
Once you have established a base architecture for a load balancing environment, you have cleared the way for future growth and scalability because adding additional resources to the server farm is a seamless process.
Progent is experienced with a wide range of load balancing technologies covering server balancing, application balancing, and LAN/WAN infrastructure routing. Progent offers consulting expertise with products from the leading vendors of load balancing technology including Microsoft, Cisco, Citrix, and F-5 networks.
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Load Balancing Manager
Microsoft Network Load Balancing (NLB) Manager allows you to create and manage Network Load Balancing clusters from a single computer, and you can also replicate the cluster configuration to other hosts. Microsoft Network Load Balancing Manager makes it easy to create new clusters, add hosts to an existing cluster, configure all host and cluster properties, replicate the cluster configuration to other hosts, and diagnose problems with existing Network Load Balancing clusters. Adding hosts to an existing cluster automatically enables Network Load Balancing on that host and configures cluster parameters on that host. Removing hosts from a cluster automatically disables Network Load Balancing on that host. Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers can show you how to configure and operate Microsoft Network Load Balancing Manager to enhance network performance and simplify system management.
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Network Load Balancing Manager
Network Load Balancing (NLB) is improved in Windows Server 2008 by the inclusion of support for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) 6.0, Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) enhancements, and improved functionality with Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA Server). ISA Server can configure multiple dedicated IP addresses per each NLB node for environments with both IPv4 and IPv6 traffic. ISA Server can also provide NLB with SYN attack and timer starvation notifications during scenarios when a computer is overloaded or is being infected by an Internet virus. Find out more about Progent's Windows Server 2008 consulting services.
Cisco Content Services Switches and Cisco IOS-based Routers
Through content fast switching and forwarding, the Cisco CSS 11500 Series switches improve utilization, responsiveness, availability, scalability, and security of Web sites, server farms, cache clusters, and firewall systems. Load balancing is a standard functionality of the Cisco IOS router software, and is available across all router platforms. It is based on standard routing protocols, such as Routing Information Protocol (RIP), RIPv2, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), and Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP), or derived from statically configured routes and packet forwarding mechanisms. Progent's Cisco-certified network engineers can help you select and deploy a Cisco-based network infrastructure that makes good business sense for your environment and can configure Cisco's IOS Server Load Balancing (SLB) service. To find out more about Progent's Cisco consulting services, see Cisco Consulting Support.
Citrix Metaframe, Presentation Server, and Access Gateway
Citrix Presentation Server is an application delivery system offering client-side and server-side application virtualization for enhanced application performance and flexible delivery options. Citrix Presentation Server allows organizations to centralize applications and data in secure data centers, reducing costs of management and support, increasing data security, and ensuring consistently high performance. MetaFrame Secure Access Manager technology has been integrated into Citrix Access Gateway, an SSL VPN that securely delivers any application with policy-based SmartAccess control. Users have easy-to use secure access to the applications and data they need to be productive. Organizations can cost effectively extend access to datacenter resources from outside the office while maintaining control through comprehensive SmartAccess policies. Progent's Citrix-certified consultants can help you implement Citrix products to help optimize application performance and availability.
F5 Networks BIG-IP and BIG-IP Global Traffic Manager
F5 Networks’ BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is an application delivery networking system featuring a set of unified application infrastructure services. BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager removes single points of failure and virtualizes the network and applications using L7 intelligence. LTM improves application performance, increases the capacity of existing infrastructure, and lowers infrastructure costs. BIG-IP Global Traffic Manager uses topology-based load balancing to inspect a user's IP and determine the most efficient data center. When users try to access a data center that is overloaded or unreachable, BIG-IP Global Traffic Manager automatically and seamlessly directs them to a secondary data center. This capability makes BIG-IP GTM especially important for enterprises that need to maintain operations in the event of a natural disaster, power failure, or any other large-scale service disruption. Learn more about Progent's disaster recovery consulting.
Other High Availability Solutions Provided by Progent's Experts
Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-certified consulting experts can assist your company build an affordable, fault-tolerant IT architecture that addresses critical challenges covering a broad array of networking solutions and operations such as:
Workplace Recovery Planning
Progent's business continuity engineers can show you how to create a workplace recovery strategy so you can restore IT functionality in the event of an IT system disaster. Progent can assist you to define a comprehensive disaster recovery strategy that incorporates scheduled disaster recovery evaluations and testing. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-certified professionals can also help you create an affordable, zero-downtime network solution that takes into account availability issues involving a broad array of infrastructure technologies and processes. To read more, see Disaster Recovery Consulting Services.
Fault Tolerant Internet Connectivity
Progent's Cisco-authorized IT professionals can help you design an economical, fault tolerant Internet connection architecture that can achieve 24x7 Internet access via a broad array of fault tolerant Internet access technologies including fault tolerant BGP, automatic fail-over, and redundant Internet Service Providers. Progent can provide CCIE professionals to help you apply the most advanced technology for fault tolerant Internet connectivity to build an economical, completely redundant Internet interface with automatic failover and other features to deliver non-stop Internet availability. To read more, see Non-stop Internet Access Architecture.
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Failover Clusters
The clustering technology incorporated into the high-end editions of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is dramatically redesigned to simplify the installation, setup, and management of server clusters that provide greater levels of network dependability, protection, performance, and versatility. New or enhanced features include automated cluster verification, revamped configuration and deployment, improved cluster management, new cluster architecture for increased availability, better security and quorum structure, elimination of failure points, more disk and RAM capacity, and enhancements for geographically dispersed clusters. To read more, go to Windows Failover Clustering Support.
Microsoft 2003 Clusters
Progent offers Windows Cluster Server assistance to help your company deploy non-stop clustered servers designed to provide 24x7 uptime. Clustered Windows servers for high-availability systems include Windows 2003 Cluster Server, Microsoft SQL Server Cluster, and Microsoft Exchange Cluster. By helping you design fault-tolerant server clustering environments based on Microsoft Windows Server Cluster 2003, Progent’s certified Windows professionals ensure that your high availability clustered servers are set up to maximize the business advantage of your information network. To read more, visit Microsoft Server Cluster Expertise.
Non-stop Data Centers
Progent's Data Center engineers can show you how to find fault-tolerant data centers that meet the particular requirements of your business. High availability co-location sites are particularly appealing to small businesses due to of their affordability and simplified logistics compared to taking a do-it-yourself approach. Attempting to build an on-site data center with even a minimum level of fault tolerance is too expensive for typical small companies. Progent is ready to help you get all the advantages of 24x7 colocation facilities by providing a full array of engineering and maintenance services. To learn more, visit Non-stop Data Centers Expertise.
24x7 Inter-office Networking
Progent’s branch office network infrastructure consultants can help small organizations create fault tolerant inter-site connectivity solutions by means of redundant system architectures featuring transparent failover. Progent’s Cisco-qualified CCIE engineers can plan and implement ultra-reliable Inter-office connections based on non-stop EIGRP routers or non-stop OSPF deployment of Cisco routers. Progent can demonstrate how redundant connectivity and automatic fail-over offers economical non-stop interoffice networking. For more information, visit Failsafe Inter-office Connectivity.
Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager Backup and Recovery Consulting and Support Services
Progent's certified Data Protection Manager (DPM) support professionals can help your company to create a practical workplace recovery strategy, implement an affordable zero-downtime IT infrastructure, configure a DPM-based backup and recovery solution, thoroughly validate your DPM system, train your IT personnel or local consultants how to maintain Microsoft Data Protection Manager, or handle complete IT support outsourcing such as remote hosting of Microsoft DPM servers in Progent's secure data center. For details, visit Data Protection Manager (DPM) Expertise.
Why Pick Progent for Workplace Recovery Planning and Fault-tolerant Networking Consulting?
Since Progent is a Microsoft Gold Partner and offers specialized application expertise for a wide variety of small business applications, Progent is able to help customers to find comprehensive IT solutions that optimize the business value of your information system. As a Registered Partner for Cisco, Progent can provide the expertise of certified engineers and specialists with expertise in architecting, implementing and maintaining infrastructure solutions based on Cisco technology. The breadth of Progent's IT experience and Progent's sensitivity to the requirements of small and midsize companies make Progent the ideal partner for building and running an affordable, fault-tolerant network.
How You Can Get in Touch with Progent's Engineers for High Availability Computing Support
To ask Progent about consulting support for high availability architecture, call 1-800-993-9400 or send email to fault-tolerant-help@progent.com.
