Network Load Balancing (NLB)

Network Load Balancing is a clustering technology offered by Microsoft as part of all Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 family operating systems. NLB uses a distributed algorithm to load balance network traffic across a number of hosts, helping to enhance the scalability and availability of mission critical, IP-based services, such as Web, Virtual Private Networking, Streaming Media,Terminal Services, Proxy, etc. It also provides high availability by detecting host failures and automatically redistributing traffic to operational hosts.









Configuring NLB
To configure NLB parameters, you need to configure the cluster parameters, host parameters, and port rules.

Configuring Cluster Parameters
1. Start the Network and Dial-up Connections tool.
2. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties
3. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, click Network Load Balancing, and then
click Properties. The Network Load Balancing Properties dialog box appears.
4. On the Cluster Parameters tab, specify values in the Primary IP address, Subnet mask, Full
Internet name, Multicast support, Remote password, Confirm password, and Remote
control boxes by using information from the installation checklist.

Configuring Host Parameters
1. Start the Network and Dial-up Connections tool.
2. Right-click Local Area Connection and then click Properties.
3. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, click Network Load Balancing, and then
click Properties. The Network Load Balancing Properties dialog box appears.
4. Click the Host Parameters tab.
5. Specify values in the Priority (Unique host ID), Initial cluster state, Dedicated IP address, and
Subnet mask

Configuring Port Rules
1. Start the Network and Dial-up Connections tool.
2. Right-click Local Area Connection and then click Properties.
3. In the Local Connection Properties dialog box, click Network Load Balancing, and then click
Properties. The Network Load Balancing Properties dialog box appears.
4. Click the Port Rules tab.
5. Specify values for the Port range, Protocols, Filtering mode, Affinity, Load weight, and
Handling priority boxes by using information from the installation checklist.
6. Click Add.