Load balancing algorithms are essential for distributing incoming network traffic across multiple servers to ensure optimal resource utilization, prevent server overload, and enhance the performance and reliability of applications. Here are some commonly used load balancing algorithms:
Static Load Balancing Algorithms
Round Robin Load Balancing
Description: Distributes client requests to application servers in a sequential or rotational manner.
Use Case: Effective when servers have similar capabilities and workloads.
Example: If there are three servers, the first request goes to the first server, the second to the second server, and so on, looping back to the first server after the last one[1][3][5].
Weighted Round Robin Load Balancing
Description: Similar to Round Robin but assigns different weights to servers based on their capacity.
Use Case: Useful when servers have varying capabilities. Servers with higher weights receive more requests.
Example: If Server A has a weight of 2 and Server B has a weight of 1, Server A will receive twice as many requests as Server B[1][3][7].
Source IP Hash Load Balancing
Description: Uses a hash function on the source IP address to determine which server should handle the request.
Use Case: Ensures that requests from the same client are consistently directed to the same server.
Example: Commonly used in scenarios where session persistence is required[2][9].
Dynamic Load Balancing Algorithms
Least Connections Load Balancing
Description: Directs incoming requests to the server with the fewest active connections.
Use Case: Effective in environments where the duration of requests varies significantly.
Example: Ensures that no single server is overwhelmed by too many connections at once[10][12].
Least Response Time Load Balancing
Description: Sends requests to the server that has the fastest response time.
Use Case: Ideal for applications where response time is critical.
Example: Ensures that requests are handled by the server that can respond the quickest[6][16].
Dynamic Round Robin Load Balancing
Description: Adjusts the distribution of requests based on real-time performance and health metrics of the servers.
Use Case: Useful in environments where server performance can vary over time.
