Web OS 10.0 Application Guide
290 Chapter 12: Global Server Load Balancing 212777-A, February 2002
GSLB Overview
GSLB allows balancing server traffic load across multiple physical sites. The Alteon GSLB
implementation takes into account an individual site’s health, response time, and geographic
location to smoothly integrate the resources of the dispersed server sites for complete global
performance.

Benefits

GSLB meets the following demands for distributed network services:
nHigh content availability is achieved through distributed content and distributed decision
making. If one site becomes disabled, the others become aware of it and take up the load.
nThere is no latency during client connection set up. Instant site hand-off decisions can be
made by any distributed switch.
nThe best performing sites receive a majority of traffic over a given period of time but are
not overwhelmed.
nSwitches at different sites regularly exchange information through the Distributed Site
State Protocol (DSSP), and can trigger exchanges when any site’s health status changes.
This ensures that each active site has valid state knowledge and statistics.
nGSLB implementation takes geography as well as network topology into account.
nCreative control is given to the network administrator or Webmaster to build and control
content by user, location, target application, and more.
nGSLB is easy to deploy, manage, and scale. Switch configuration is straightforward. There
are no complex system topologies involving routers, protocols, and so forth.
nFlexible design options are provided.
nAll IP protocols are supported.

Compatibility with Other Web OS Features

nURL-based server load balancing is compatible with GSLB.
nCookie-based persistence is compatible with GSLB: cookie rewrite and cookie insert
modes.