Flow Based Load Balancing: Optimizing Web Servers Resource Utilization

Abstract

Abstract. The expansion of the Internet has caused a growth on the number of users requesting services through the network, as well as the number of servers and the amount of services they offer. In order to minimize this problem, web servers have started to use a distributed architecture implementation, however with only one external interface for receiving requests from users. In this paper, we propose an approach towards flow-oriented load balancing, using the OpenFlow technology. Thus, each data flow is directed to a server, according to the policy being employed. We evaluate three load balancing techniques: random choice, time slice based choice and weighted balancing, each of them with its advantages and disadvantages. Through our measurements, weighted balancing achieved the best results over the other policies. Moreover, random choice and time slice based choice are capable of distributing the load in an acceptable way among nodes, considering the average load of each server.

An Intelligent Model for Distributed Systems in Next Generation Networks

“…The data path is still residing on the switch, while the high-level routing decisions are separating in different device called controller, usually a standard server. The OpenFlow enabled switch and the controller to communicate over OpenFlow protocol, which defined messages, such as packet-received and send-packet-out [3]. As a result, companies get the programmability, automation, and the control of the network, which enable them to build highly scalable, flexible networks that can be easily adapted to different changing environment.…”

“…As a result, companies get the programmability, automation, and the control of the network, which enable them to build highly scalable, flexible networks that can be easily adapted to different changing environment. Recent development techniques enable dynamic reprogramming of the devices through the data flow [3]. The DAIM model based-OpenFlow gives the distributed system environment a sustainable information model, which collects, maintains updates and synchronizes all the related information.…”

DAIM: a Mechanism to Distribute Control Functions within OpenFlow Switches

“…The first industry developed standard for SDN is OpenFlow-based [1]. OpenFlow has a protocol, which is used between the switches and the controller to communicate and exchange messages such as get-stats, packets-receive, and packetssent-out [3]. So, companies get the network programming ability to control the network with high scalability and flexibility, which can adapt easily according to ever changing circumstances.…”