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.

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 Non-stop Solutions Supported by Progent's Experts
Progent's Microsoft and Cisco engineers can assist your business build an efficient, fault-tolerant environment that addresses critical problems covering a broad array of networking solutions and processes including:

High Availability Internet Connectivity Solutions
Progent's Cisco-certified network professionals can help you create an economical, 24x7 Internet connection architecture that can achieve 24x7 Internet access through a broad array of fault tolerant Internet network solutions including fault tolerant BGP, transparent fail-over, and redundant Internet Service Providers. Progent can provide CCIE engineers to help you utilize the latest techniques for 24x7 Internet connections to build an affordable, fully redundant Internet interface with automatic failover and other capabilities to create non-stop Internet availability. To read more, see Non-stop Internet Connectivity Solutions

Microsoft Server Cluster
Progent offers Windows 2003 Cluster Server assistance to help your company implement high availability server clusters designed to provide 24x7 operation. Windows cluster servers for high-availability networks include Microsoft Windows Cluster Server, SQL Cluster Server, and Microsoft Exchange Server Cluster. By helping you design high availability server clustering environments around Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Cluster, Progent’s certified Windows experts ensure that your high availability clustered servers are set up to maximize the competitive advantage of your IT system. For details, go to Windows Server Cluster Consulting.

High-Availability Colocation
Progent's Data Center consultants can help you select fault-tolerant data centers that meet the specific requirements of your business. High availability colocation sites are particularly appealing to small businesses due to of their affordability and convenience in comparison to taking a do-it-yourself strategy. Attempting to create an on-site data center with even a minimum level of fault tolerance is too costly for the majority of small companies. Progent can help you reap all the benefits of high availability data centers and fault tolerant colo sites by providing a complete array of engineering and support services. For details, visit Non-stop Data Centers Expertise.

High-Availability Interoffice Networking
Progent’s non-stop inter-site connectivity and fault tolerant network connection consultants can help small businesses achieve non-stop Interoffice connectivity through redundant networks with transparent failover. Progent’s Cisco-certified Cisco Certified Internetwork Experts can design and deploy fault tolerant Inter-office connections based on non-stop EIGRP routers or fault tolerant OSPF configurations of Cisco routers. Progent can demonstrate how multi-path connections and transparent fail-over can provide economical 24x7 interoffice networking. To find out more, visit 24x7 Interoffice Networking.

Disaster Recovery Consulting and Business Continuity Consulting Experts
Progent's disaster recovery support and business continuity engineers can show you how to design a disaster recovery strategy in case of an IT network disaster. Progent can show you how to define a complete disaster recovery strategy that includes periodic disaster recovery evaluations and drills. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-authorized professionals can also help you create an affordable, non-stop network solution that addresses availability issues covering a wide array of network technologies and procedures. To learn more, visit Business Continuity Consulting and Support Services.

Data Protection Manager Data Recovery Consultants
Progent's expert Microsoft DPM consultants can help you to develop an effective disaster recovery plan, design a cost-effective high-availability IT architecture, install a DPM-powered backup and restore system, thoroughly validate your system, educate your IT personnel or regular service providers how to maintain Data Protection Manager, or provide complete information technology outsourcing including off-site hosting of Microsoft Data Protection Manager servers in Progent's world-class data center facility. For details, see Microsoft Data Protection Manager Expertise.

Why You Should Pick Progent
Because Progent is a Microsoft Gold Partner and offers high-level application support for a wide variety of business applications, Progent can assist clients to arrive at efficient information technology solutions that maximize the business value of your network. As a Registered Partner for Cisco, Progent can provide the support of qualified engineers and specialists with experience in designing, configuring and supporting networking environments built on Cisco Systems technology. The breadth of Progent's technical experience and Progent's appreciation for the requirements of small businesses make Progent the perfect resource for creating and running an affordable, fault-tolerant network.

How You Can Access Progent's Engineers for Fault Tolerant System Services
If you wish to contact Progent about engineering support for fault tolerant architecture, phone 1-800-993-9400 or e-mail fault-tolerant-help@progent.com.