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Table Of Contents
Overview of the IOS SLB Feature
Algorithms for Server Load Balancing
Automatic Server Failure Detection
Client-Assigned Load Balancing
Delayed Removal of TCP Connection Context
Dynamic Feedback Protocol for IOS SLB
Network Address Translation (NAT) and Session Redirection
Transparent Web Caches Balancing
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Load Balancing
Supported Standards, MIBs, and RFCs
Configuring the Virtual Servers
Configuring the Restricted Clients
Verifying the Restricted Clients
Verifying IOS SLB Connectivity
Specifying a Server Load Balancing Algorithm
Configuring Real Server Attributes
Adjusting Virtual Server Values
Configuring IOS SLB Firewall Load Balancing
Configuring Probes and the Firewall Farm
Verifying Firewall Connectivity
Configuring IOS SLB Dynamic Feedback Protocol
Implementing IOS SLB Stateless Backup
How IOS SLB Stateless Backup Works
Configuring IOS SLB Stateless Backup
Verifying the IOS SLB Stateless Backup Configuration
Sample IOS SLB Stateless Backup Configuration
Configuring IOS SLB Stateful Backup
Configuring Stateful Backup for Server Load Balancing
Configuring Stateful Backup for Firewall Load Balancing
Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature
Complete Example Configuration
Example of a Layer 3 Switch with ISL, VLAN, and BVI with GEC
Example of IOS SLB with Firewall Load Balancing
Internal Firewall Load-Balancing Device
External Firewall Load-Balancing Device
Example of IOS SLB with Probes
Example of a Layer 3 Switch Configured with IOS SLB
Switch A Configuration Statements
Switch B Configuration Statements
Switch C Configuration Statements
Example of an IOS Layer 3 Switch with HSRP
Device A (Active) Configuration Statements
Device B (Standby) Configuration Statements
Examples of IOS SLB with Stateless Backup
Example with Dynamic Routing and Trunking
Example with Dynamic Routing and No Trunking
Example with Static Routing and Trunking
Example with Static Routing and No Trunking
Example of IOS SLB with Stateful Backup
Switch SLB1 Configuration Statements
Switch SLB2 Configuration Statements
Example of IOS SLB with Active Standby
SLB 1 Configuration Statements
SLB 2 Configuration Statements
Access Router Configuration Statements
Example of IOS SLB with Redistribution of Static Routes
Routing Information Protocol (RIP)
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP)
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (Enhanced IGRP)
Example of IOS SLB with WAP Load Balancing
IOS SLB Device Configuration Statements
delay (firewall farm TCP protocol)
idle (firewall farm TCP protocol)
idle (firewall farm UDP protocol)
inservice (firewall farm real server)
inservice (server farm real server)
inservice (server farm virtual server)
maxconns (firewall farm TCP protocol)
maxconns (firewall farm UDP protocol)
predictor hash address (firewall farm)
probe (firewall farm real server)
replicate casa (firewall farm)
replicate casa (virtual server)
standby priority, standby preempt
sticky (firewall farm TCP protocol)
sticky (firewall farm UDP protocol)
weight (firewall farm real server)
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
IOS Server Load Balancing
This feature module describes the Cisco IOS Server Load Balancing (SLB) feature for Cisco IOS Release 12.1(3a)E. It includes the following sections:
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Overview of the IOS SLB Feature
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Overview of the IOS SLB Feature
The IOS SLB feature is an IOS-based solution that provides IP server load balancing. Using the IOS SLB feature, you can define a virtual server that represents a group of real servers in a cluster of network servers known as a server farm. In this environment, the clients connect to the IP address of the virtual server. When a client initiates a connection to the virtual server, the IOS SLB function chooses a real server for the connection based on a configured load-balancing algorithm.
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IOS SLB also provides firewall load balancing, which balances flows across a group of firewalls called a firewall farm.
Figure 1 illustrates a logical view of a simple IOS SLB network.
Figure 1 Logical View of IOS SLB
Functions and Capabilities
This section describes the following functions and capabilities provided by IOS SLB:
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Algorithms for Server Load Balancing
IOS SLB provides two load-balancing algorithms: weighted round robin and weighted least connections. You can specify either algorithm as the basis for choosing a real server for each new connection request that arrives at the virtual server.
Weighted Round Robin
The weighted round robin algorithm specifies that the real server used for a new connection to the virtual server is chosen from the server farm in a circular fashion. Each real server is assigned a weight, n, that represents its capacity to handle connections, as compared to the other real servers associated with the virtual server. That is, new connections are assigned to a given real server n times before the next real server in the server farm is chosen.
For example, assume a server farm comprised of real server ServerA with n = 3, ServerB with n = 1, and ServerC with n = 2. The first three connections to the virtual server are assigned to ServerA, the fourth connection to ServerB, and the fifth and sixth connections to ServerC.
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Weighted Least Connections
The weighted least connections algorithm specifies that the next real server chosen from a server farm for a new connection to the virtual server is the server with the fewest active connections. Each real server is assigned a weight for this algorithm, also. When weights are assigned, the server with the fewest connections is based on the number of active connections on each server, and on the relative capacity of each server. The capacity of a given real server is calculated as the assigned weight of that server divided by the sum of the assigned weights of all of the real servers associated with that virtual server, or n1/(n1+n2+n3...).
For example, assume a server farm comprised of real server ServerA with n = 3, ServerB with n = 1, and ServerC with n = 2. ServerA would have a calculated capacity of 3/(3+1+2), or half of all active connections on the virtual server, ServerB one-sixth of all active connections, and ServerC one-third of all active connections. At any point in time, the next connection to the virtual server would be assigned to the real server whose number of active connections is farthest below its calculated capacity.
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Alternate IP Addresses
IOS SLB enables you to telnet to the load-balancing device using an alternate IP address. To do so, use either of the following methods:
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This function is similar to that provided by the LocalDirector (LD) Alias command.
Automatic Server Failure Detection
IOS SLB automatically detects each failed Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection attempt to a real server, and increments a failure counter for that server. (The failure counter is not incremented if a failed TCP connection from the same client has already been counted.) If a server's failure counter exceeds a configurable failure threshold, the server is considered out of service and is removed from the list of active real servers.
Automatic Unfail
When a real server fails and is removed from the list of active servers, it is assigned no new connections for a length of time specified by a configurable retry timer. After that timer expires, the server is again eligible for new virtual server connections and IOS SLB sends the server the next qualifying connection. If the connection is successful, the failed server is placed back on the list of active real servers. If the connection is unsuccessful, the server remains out of service and the retry timer is reset.
Client-Assigned Load Balancing
Client-assigned load balancing allows you to limit access to a virtual server by specifying the list of client IP subnets that are permitted to use that virtual server. With this feature, you can assign a set of client IP subnets (such as internal subnets) connecting to a virtual IP address to one serverfarm, and assign another set of clients (such as external clients) to a different serverfarm.
Content Flow Monitor Support
IOS SLB supports the Cisco Content Flow Monitor (CFM), a Web-based status monitoring application within the CiscoWorks2000 product family. You can use CFM to manage Cisco server load-balancing devices. CFM runs on Windows NT and Solaris workstations, and is accessed using a Web browser.
Delayed Removal of TCP Connection Context
Because of IP packet ordering anomalies, IOS SLB might "see" the termination of a TCP connection (a finish [FIN] or reset [RST]) followed by other packets for the connection. This problem usually occurs when there are multiple paths that the TCP connection packets can follow. To correctly redirect the packets that arrive after the connection is terminated, IOS SLB retains the TCP connection information, or context, for a specified length of time. The length of time the context is retained after the connection is terminated is controlled by a configurable delay timer.
Dynamic Feedback Protocol for IOS SLB
The Dynamic Feedback Protocol (DFP) is a mechanism that allows host agents in load-balanced environments to dynamically report the change in status of the host systems that provide a virtual service. The status reported is a relative weight that specifies a host server's capacity to perform work.
When a DFP agent is defined to IOS SLB, a TCP connection is initiated from the manager to the DFP agent. Once this connection is established, the agent periodically sends update information across the connection to IOS SLB. This information is used by IOS SLB as an aid in load balancing the real servers, as well as acting as an application-level keep-alive for the connection. If an agent on the real server has no information to send, and an inactivity timeout was specified for this DFP agent, the agent must send an empty report to prevent removal of the connection. In the event of a failure, IOS SLB uses the weight specified by the user when the real server was configured, or a default weight if a weight was not specified.
The DFP agent can be either software running on the real server or a separate unit that collects information from one or more real servers. The DFP agent consolidates the information, formats it into the DFP, and reports the information to IOS SLB at periodic intervals. If a need arises, such as a sudden change in a real server's ability to handle flows, the DFP agent can send an early report.
Firewall Load Balancing
As its name implies, firewall load balancing enables IOS SLB to balance flows to firewalls regardless of whether server load balancing is used. Firewall load balancing uses a load-balancing device on each side of a group of firewalls (called a firewall farm) to ensure that the traffic for each flow travels to the same firewall, ensuring that the security policy is not compromised.
Layer 3 firewalls, which have IP-addressable interfaces, are supported by IOS SLB firewall load balancing if they are subnet-adjacent to the firewall load-balancing device and have unique MAC addresses. The device does not modify the IP addresses in the user packet. To send the packet to the chosen firewall, the device determines which interface to use and changes the Layer 2 headers accordingly. This is the standard dispatched routing used by IOS SLB.
Layer 2 firewalls, which do not have IP addresses, are transparent to IOS SLB firewall load balancing. IOS SLB supports Layer 2 firewalls by placing them between two IP-addressable interfaces.
Whereas many Layer 3 firewalls might exist off a single Layer 3 interface on the load-balancing device (for example, a single LAN), only one Layer 2 firewall can exist off each interface.
When configuring the load-balancing device, you configure a Layer 3 firewall using its IP address, and a Layer 2 firewall using the IP address of the interface of the device on the "other side" of the firewall.
IOS SLB firewall load balancing uses a hash algorithm to balance flows across the firewalls in a firewall farm. The hash algorithm uses the source and destination IP addresses of incoming flows (and optionally the source and destination TCP or User Datagram Protocol [UDP] port numbers) to select a firewall to handle the connection request.
To maximize availability and resilience in a network with multiple firewalls, configure a separate equal-cost route to each firewall, rather than a single route to only one of the firewalls.
IOS SLB firewall load balancing provides the following capabilities:
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Maximum Connections
IOS SLB allows you to configure maximum connections for server and firewall load balancing.
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Network Address Translation (NAT) and Session Redirection
Cisco IOS NAT, RFC 1631, allows unregistered "private" IP addresses to connect to the Internet by translating them into globally registered IP addresses. Cisco IOS NAT also increases network privacy by hiding internal IP addresses from external networks.
IOS SLB can operate in one of two session redirection modes:
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IOS SLB supports the following types of NAT:
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In both dispatched and directed modes, IOS SLB must track connections. Therefore, you must design your network so that there is no alternate network path from the real servers to the client that bypasses the load-balancing device.
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Port-Bound Servers
When you define a virtual server, you must specify the TCP or UDP port handled by that virtual server. However, if you configure NAT on the server farm, you can also configure port-bound servers. Port-bound servers allow one virtual server IP address to represent one set of real servers for one service, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and a different set of real servers for another service, such as Telnet.
Packets destined for a virtual server address for a port that is not specified in the virtual server definition are not redirected.
IOS SLB supports both port-bound and non-port-bound servers, but port-bound servers are recommended.
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Probes
IOS SLB supports both HTTP probes and ping probes. Probes are a simple way to verify connectivity for devices being server load-balanced, and for firewalls being firewall load-balanced (even devices on the other side of a firewall).
HTTP probes also enable you to monitor applications being server load-balanced. With frequent probes, the operation of each application is verified, not just connectivity to the application.
You can configure more than one probe for each server farm, or for each firewall in a firewall farm.
Server Load Balancing
Probes determine the status of each real server in a server farm. All real servers associated with all virtual servers tied to that server farm are probed.
If a real server fails for one probe, it is failed for all probes. After the real server recovers, all probes must acknowledge its recovery before it is restored to service.
Firewall Load Balancing
Probes detect firewall failures. All firewalls associated with the firewall farm are probed.
If a firewall fails for one probe, it is failed for all probes. After the firewall recovers, all probes must acknowledge its recovery before it is restored to service.
HTTP Probes
Make sure you configure the HTTP probe to expect status code 401, to eliminate password problems. See the expect command for more details.
Use the ip http server command to configure an HTTP server on the switch. See the description of the ip http server command in the Cisco IOS Configuration Fundamentals Command Reference for more details.
Protocol Support
IOS SLB supports the following protocols:
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Redundancy Enhancements
An IOS SLB device can represent a single point of failure, and the servers can lose their connections to the backbone, if either of the following occurs:
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To reduce that risk, IOS SLB supports two redundancy options, both based on HSRP:
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IOS SLB also supports active standby, in which two IOS SLBs can load-balance the same virtual IP address while at the same time acting as backups for each other. If a site has only one virtual IP address to load balance, an access router is used to direct a subset of the flows to each IOS SLB using policy-based routing.
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Slow Start
In an environment that uses weighted least connections load balancing, a real server that is placed in service initially has no connections, and could therefore be assigned so many new connections that it becomes overloaded. To prevent such an overload, slow start controls the number of new connections that are directed to a real server that has just been placed in service.
Sticky Connections
When you use sticky connections, new connections from a client IP address or subnet are assigned to the same real server (for server load balancing) or firewall (for firewall load balancing) as were previous connections from that address or subnet.
IOS SLB creates sticky objects to track client assignments. The sticky objects remain in the IOS SLB database after the last sticky connection is deleted, for a period defined by a configurable sticky timer. If the timer is configured on a virtual server or on a firewall farm, new connections from a client are sent to the same real server that handled the previous client connection, provided one of the following is true:
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Sticky connections allow you to create a sticky object for a subnet, ensuring that all flows from the subnet are sent to the same real server. (Make sure the volume of flows is not so large that it overwhelms the real server.)
Sticky connections also permit the coupling of services that are handled by more than one virtual server or firewall farm. This allows connection requests for related services to use the same real server. For example, Web server (HTTP) typically uses TCP port 80, and HTTP over Secure Socket Layer (HTTPS) uses port 443. If HTTP virtual servers and HTTPS virtual servers are coupled, connections for ports 80 and 443 from the same client IP address or subnet are assigned to the same real server.
SynGuard
SynGuard limits the rate of TCP start-of-connection packets (SYNchronize sequence numbers, or SYNs) handled by a virtual server to prevent a type of network problem known as a SYN flood denial-of-service attack. A user might send a large number of SYNs to a server, which could overwhelm or crash the server, denying service to other users. SynGuard prevents such an attack from bringing down IOS SLB or a real server. SynGuard monitors the number of SYNs to a virtual server over a specific time interval and does not allow the number to exceed a configured SYN threshold. If the threshold is reached, any new SYNs are dropped.
TCP Session Reassignment
IOS SLB tracks each TCP SYN sent to a real server by a client attempting to open a new connection. If several consecutive SYNs are not answered, or if a SYN is replied to with an RST, the TCP session is reassigned to a new real server. The number of SYN attempts is controlled by a configurable reassign threshold.
IOS SLB firewall load balancing does not support TCP session reassignment.
Transparent Web Caches Balancing
You can use IOS SLB to balance transparent Web caches if you know the IP addresses they are serving. Simply configure the IP addresses, or some common subset of them, as virtual servers.
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Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Load Balancing
You can use IOS SLB to load balance a group of WAP gateways or content servers. WAP load balancing requires a UDP virtual server configured on one of the WAP ports (9200, 9201, 9202, or 9203).
IOS SLB uses ping probes, which you can configure to verify the presence of each real server, to detect WAP server failures. If a server's WAP stack fails but its Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) stack does not fail, IOS SLB cannot detect the WAP server failure.
Benefits
IOS SLB shares the same software code base as Cisco IOS and has all the software features sets of Cisco IOS software. IOS SLB is recommended for customers desiring complete integration of SLB technology into traditional Cisco switches and routers.
On the Cisco Catalyst 6500 switch, IOS SLB takes advantage of hardware acceleration to forward data packets at very high speed when running in dispatched mode.
IOS SLB assures continuous, high availability of content and applications with proven techniques for actively managing servers and connections in a distributed environment. By distributing user requests across a cluster of servers, IOS SLB optimizes responsiveness and system capacity, and dramatically reduces the cost of providing Internet, database, and application services for large-scale as well as small- and medium- sized sites.
IOS SLB facilitates scalability, availability, and ease of maintenance:
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Administration of server applications is easier. Clients know only about virtual servers; no administration is required for real server changes.
Security of the real server is provided because its address is never announced to the external network. Users are familiar only with the virtual IP address. You can filter unwanted flows based on both IP address and TCP or UDP port numbers. Additionally, though it does not eliminate the need for a firewall, IOS SLB can help protect against some denial-of-service attacks.
In a branch office, IOS SLB allows balancing of multiple sites and disaster recovery in the event of full-site failure, and distributes the work of load balancing.
Restrictions
IOS SLB has the following restrictions:
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- Active standby
- Client-assigned load balancing
- Network Address Translation (NAT)
- Post-bound servers
- SynGuard
- TCP session reassignment
- Transparent Web caches balancing
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Supported Platforms
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Supported Standards, MIBs, and RFCs
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RFCs
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Required Configuration Tasks
This section describes the tasks required to configure a basic IOS SLB network.
Configuring IOS SLB involves identifying server farms, configuring groups of real servers in server farms, and configuring the virtual servers that represent the real servers to the clients. See the following sections for required configuration tasks for the IOS SLB feature.
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Figure 2 shows a sample IOS SLB network with the following components:
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Figure 2 Example IOS SLB Network
To configure the IOS SLB network shown in Figure 2, use the following commands beginning in global configuration mode:
Adds a server farm definition to the IOS SLB configuration and initiates server farm configuration mode. See the ip slb serverfarm command for more details.
Identifies a real server as a member of a server farm and initiates real server configuration mode. See the real (server farm) command for more details.
Enables the real server for use by IOS SLB. See the inservice (server farm real server) command for more details.
Router(config-slb-real)# exitReturn to server farm configuration mode.
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# endReturn to global configuration mode.
Identifies a virtual server and initiates virtual server configuration mode. See the ip slb vserver command for more details.
Router(config-slb-vserver)# virtual ip-address {tcp | udp} port-number [service service-name]Specifies the virtual server IP address, type of connection, TCP or UDP port number, and optional service coupling. See the virtual command for more details.
Associates a real server farm with a virtual server. See the serverfarm command for more details.
Enables the virtual server for use by IOS SLB. See the inservice (server farm virtual server) command for more details.
Specifies which clients are allowed to use the virtual server. See the client command for more details.
The following sections include examples of the configuration commands used to configure and verify the IOS SLB network shown in Figure 2:
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Configuring the Server Farms
The following commands configure the server farm PUBLIC and associate the three real servers:
Router# config tEnter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLICRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.1Router(config-slb-real)# reassign 2Router(config-slb-real)# faildetect numconns 4 numclients 2Router(config-slb-real)# retry 20Router(config-slb-real)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-real)# exitRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.2Router(config-slb-real)# reassign 2Router(config-slb-real)# faildetect numconns 4Router(config-slb-real)# retry 20Router(config-slb-real)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-real)# exitRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.3Router(config-slb-real)# reassign 2Router(config-slb-real)# faildetect numconns 4Router(config-slb-real)# retry 20Router(config-slb-real)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-real)# endThe following commands configure the server farm RESTRICTED and associate the two real servers:
Router# config tEnter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm RESTRICTEDRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.20Router(config-slb-real)# reassign 2Router(config-slb-real)# faildetect numconns 4Router(config-slb-real)# retry 20Router(config-slb-real)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-real)# exitRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.21Router(config-slb-real)# reassign 2Router(config-slb-real)# faildetect numconns 4Router(config-slb-real)# retry 20Router(config-slb-real)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-real)# endRouter#Verifying the Server Farms
The following show ip slb reals command displays the status of server farms PUBLIC and RESTRICTED, the associated real servers, and their status:
Router# show ip slb realreal farm name weight state conns---------------------------------------------------------------------10.1.1.1 PUBLIC 8 OPERATIONAL 010.1.1.2 PUBLIC 8 OPERATIONAL 010.1.1.3 PUBLIC 8 OPERATIONAL 010.1.1.20 RESTRICTED 8 OPERATIONAL 010.1.1.21 RESTRICTED 8 OPERATIONAL 0Router#The following show ip slb serverfarm command displays the configuration and status of server farms PUBLIC and RESTRICTED:
Router# show ip slb serverfarmserver farm predictor nat reals bind id---------------------------------------------------PUBLIC ROUNDROBIN none 3 0RESTRICTED ROUNDROBIN none 2 0Router#Configuring the Virtual Servers
The following commands configure the virtual servers PUBLIC_HTTP and RESTRICTED_HTTP:
Router#Router# config tEnter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTPRouter(config-slb-vserver)# virtual 10.0.0.1 tcp wwwRouter(config-slb-vserver)# serverfarm PUBLICRouter(config-slb-vserver)# idle 120Router(config-slb-vserver)# delay 5Router(config-slb-vserver)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-vserver)#.(Information Deleted).index = 1Router(config-slb-vserver)# exitRouter(config)# ip slb vserver RESTRICTED_HTTPRouter(config-slb-vserver)# virtual 10.0.0.2 tcp wwwRouter(config-slb-vserver)# serverfarm RESTRICTEDRouter(config-slb-vserver)# idle 120Router(config-slb-vserver)# delay 5Router(config-slb-vserver)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-vserver)#.(Information Deleted).index = 1Router(config-slb-vserver)# endRouter#Verifying the Virtual Servers
The following show ip slb vservers command verifies the configuration of the virtual servers PUBLIC_HTTP and RESTRICTED_HTTP:
Router# show ip slb vserversslb vserver prot virtual state conns-------------------------------------------------------------------PUBLIC_HTTP TCP 10.0.0.1:80 OPERATIONAL 0RESTRICTED_HTTP TCP 10.0.0.2:80 OPERATIONAL 0Router#Router#Configuring the Restricted Clients
The following commands remove the virtual server RESTRICTED_HTTP from service, configure the restricted client access to the virtual server, then enable the virtual server again:
Router# config tEnter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.Router(config)# ip slb vserver RESTRICTED_HTTPRouter(config-slb-vserver)# no inserviceRouter(config-slb-vserver)#.(Information Deleted).index = 1Router(config-slb-vserver)# client 10.4.4.0 255.255.255.0Router(config-slb-vserver)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-vserver)#src = 0 - 0.(Information Deleted).index = 1Router(config-slb-vserver)# endRouter#Verifying the Restricted Clients
The following show ip slb conns command verifies the restricted client access and status:
Router# show ip slb connsvserver prot client real state nat-------------------------------------------------------------------------------RESTRICTED_HTTP TCP 10.4.4.0:80 10.1.1.20 CLOSING noneRouter#The following show ip slb conns command displays detailed information about the restricted client access status:
Router# show ip slb conns client 10.4.4.0 detailVSTEST_UDP, client = 10.4.4.0:80state = CLOSING, real = 10.1.1.20, nat = nonev_ip = 10.0.0.2:80, TCP, service = NONEclient_syns = 0, sticky = FALSE, flows attached = 0Router#Verifying IOS SLB Connectivity
To verify that the IOS SLB feature has been installed and is operating correctly, ping the real servers from the IOS SLB switch, then ping the virtual servers from the clients.
The following show ip slb stats command displays detailed information about the IOS SLB network status:Router# show ip slb statsPkts via normal switching: 0Pkts via special switching: 6Connections Created: 1Connections Established: 1Connections Destroyed: 0Connections Reassigned: 0Zombie Count: 0Connections Reused: 0Router#Normal switching is when IOS SLB packets are handled on normal IOS switching paths (CEF, FastSwitching, and Process Level). Special switching is when IOS SLB packets are handled on hardware-assisted switching paths.
See the "Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature" section for additional commands used to verify IOS SLB networks and connections.
Optional Configuration Tasks
This section describes the following optional tasks you can use to fine tune the IOS SLB configuration:
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Specifying a Server Load Balancing Algorithm
To determine which real server to use for each new connection request, the IOS SLB feature uses one of two load-balancing algorithms: weighted round robin (the default) or weighted least connections. See the "Weighted Round Robin" section or the "Weighted Least Connections" section for detailed descriptions of these algorithms.
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To specify the load-balancing algorithm, use the following command in server farm configuration mode:
Specifies whether the weighted round robin algorithm or the weighted least connections algorithm is to be used to determine how a real server is selected. See the predictor (server farm) command for more details.
The following example shows how to configure weighted least-connections algorithm:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm RESTRICTEDRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# predictor leastconnsSee the "Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature" section for additional commands used to verify IOS SLB network connections and the "Complete Example Configuration" section for an example of an IOS SLB network configuration.
Specifying a Bind ID
The bind ID allows a single physical server to be bound to multiple virtual servers and report a different weight for each one. Thus, the single real server is represented as multiple instances of itself, each having a different bind ID. DFP uses the bind ID to identify for which instance of the real server a given weight is specified. The bind ID is needed only if you are using DFP.
To configure a bind ID on the server farm for use by DFP, use the following command in server farm configuration mode:
Specifies a bind ID on the server farm for use by DFP. See the bindid command for more details.
The following example shows how to configure a bind ID of 309 on server farm RESTRICTED:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm RESTRICTEDRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# bindid 309See the "Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature" section for additional commands used to verify IOS SLB network connections and the "Complete Example Configuration" section for an example of an IOS SLB network configuration.
Configuring Real Server Attributes
You can configure any of the following real server attributes, by using the following real server commands beginning in global configuration mode:
Adds a server farm definition to the IOS SLB configuration and initiates server farm configuration mode. See the ip slb serverfarm command for more details.
Identifies a real server as a member of a server farm and initiates real server configuration mode. See the real (server farm) command for more details.
Specifies the number of consecutive connection failures and, optionally, the number of unique client connection failures, that constitute failure of the real server. See the faildetect (real server) command for more details.
Specifies the maximum number of active connections allowed on the real server at one time. See the maxconns (server farm) command for more details.
Specifies the number of consecutive unanswered SYNs that initiates assignment of the connection to a different real server. See the reassign command for more details.
Specifies the interval, in seconds, to wait between the detection of a server failure and the next attempt to connect to the failed server. See the retry command for more details.
Specifies the real server's workload capacity relative to other servers in the server farm. See the weight (server farm) command for more details.
Enables the real server for use by IOS SLB. See the inservice (server farm real server) command for more details.
The following example shows how to configure the consecutive connection failures to 16 that constitute the failure of real server 10.1.1.1:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm RESTRICTEDRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.1Router(config-slb-real)# faildetect numconns 16The following example shows how to configure maximum number of connections to 1000:
Router(config-slb-real)# maxconns 1000The following example shows how to configure the number of consecutive unanswered SYNs to 4 that initiates assignment of the connection to a different real server:
Router(config-slb-real)# reassign 4The following example shows how to configure the retry interval to 120 seconds between the detection of a server failure and the next attempt to connect on real server 10.1.1.1:
Router(config-slb-real)# retry 120The following example shows how to configure workload capacity to 16, relative to other servers in the server farm:
Router(config-slb-real)# weight 16The following example shows how to enable the real server back into service after making changes to its configuration:
Router(config-slb-real)# inserviceSee the "Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature" section for additional commands used to verify IOS SLB network connections and the "Complete Example Configuration" section for an example of an IOS SLB network configuration.
Adjusting Virtual Server Values
To change the default settings of the virtual server values, use the related virtual server command beginning in global configuration mode:
Identifies a virtual server and initiates virtual server configuration mode. See the ip slb vserver command for more details.
Omits the virtual server IP address from the routing protocol updates. See the advertise command for more details.
Specifies which clients are allowed to use the virtual server. See the client command for more details.
Specifies the amount of time IOS SLB maintains TCP connection context after a connection has terminated. The default value is 10 seconds. See the delay (virtual server) command for more details.
Specifies the minimum amount of time IOS SLB maintains connection context in the absence of packet activity. The default value is 3600 seconds (60 minutes). See the idle (virtual server) command for more details.
Specifies that connections from the same client use the same real server, as long as the interval between client connections does not exceed the specified duration. See the sticky (virtual server) command for more details.
Specifies the rate of TCP SYNs handled by a virtual server in order to prevent a SYN flood denial-of-service attack. See the synguard command for more details.
Enables the virtual server for use by IOS SLB. See the inservice (server farm virtual server) command for more details.
The following commands remove the virtual server RESTRICTED_HTTP from service and then configure the restricted client access to the virtual server:
Router(config)# ip slb vserver RESTRICTED_HTTPRouter(config-slb-vserver)# no inserviceRouter(config-slb-vserver)#.(Information Deleted).index = 1Router(config-slb-vserver)# client 10.4.4.0 255.255.255.0By default, virtual server addresses are advertised. That is, static routes to the Null0 interface are installed for the virtual server addresses. To advertise these static routes using the routing protocol, you must configure redistribution of static routes for the routing protocol. To prevent the installation of a static route, use the no form of the advertise command:
Router(config-slb-vserver)# no advertiseThe following command configures the delay timer to 20 seconds after the termination of the TCP connection to the virtual server:
Router(config-slb-vserver)# delay 20The following command configures the idle time to 180 seconds (3 minutes) that the IOS SLB maintains connectivity to the virtual server in the absence of packet activity:
Router(config-slb-vserver)# idle 180The following command configures the time to 60 seconds for connections from the same client to use the same real server:
Router(config-slb-vserver)# sticky 60 group 1The following command configures the rate of TCP SYNs to 3600000 handled by the virtual server:
Router(config-slb-vserver)# synguard 3600000The following example enables the virtual server again after modification:
Router(config-slb-vserver)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-vserver)#src = 0 - 0.(Information Deleted).index = 1Router(config-slb-vserver)#See the "Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature" section for additional commands used to verify IOS SLB network connections and the "Complete Example Configuration" section for an example of an IOS SLB network configuration.
Configuring IOS SLB Firewall Load Balancing
This section describes the tasks required to configure a basic IOS SLB firewall load-balancing network.
IOS SLB firewall load balancing uses probes to detect and recover from failures. You must configure a probe on each real server in the firewall farm. Ping probes are recommended; see the "Configuring Ping Probes" section for more details. If a firewall does not allow ping probes to be forwarded, use HTTP probes instead. See the "Configuring HTTP Probes" section for more details.
This section describes the following IOS SLB firewall load-balancing configuration tasks:
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Configuring Probes and the Firewall Farm
To configure an IOS SLB firewall load-balancing network, use the following commands beginning in global configuration mode:
Step 1
Adds a firewall farm definition to the IOS SLB configuration and initiates firewall farm configuration mode. See the ip slb firewallfarm command for more details.
Step 2
Identifies a firewall as a member of a firewall farm and initiates real server configuration mode. See the real (firewall farm) command for more details.
Step 3
Associates a probe with the real server. See the probe (firewall farm real server) command for more details.
Step 4
(Optional) Specifies the real server's workload capacity relative to other servers in the firewall farm. See the weight (firewall farm real server) command for more details.
Step 5
Enables the real server for use by the firewall farm and by IOS SLB. See the inservice (firewall farm real server) command for more details.
Step 6
(Optional) Specifies whether the source and destination TCP or UDP port numbers, as well as the source and destination IP addresses, are to be used in the hash algorithm used to determine how a real server is selected. See the predictor hash address (firewall farm) command for more details.
Step 7
(Optional) Configures a stateful backup of IOS SLB decision tables to a backup switch. See the replicate casa (firewall farm) command for more details.
Step 8
(Optional) Initiates TCP protocol configuration mode. See the tcp command for more details.
Step 9
(Optional) For firewall farm TCP protocol configuration mode, specifies the amount of time IOS SLB maintains TCP connection context after a connection has terminated. See the delay (firewall farm TCP protocol) command for more details.
Step 10
(Optional) For firewall farm TCP protocol configuration mode, specifies the minimum amount of time IOS SLB maintains connection context in the absence of packet activity. See the idle (firewall farm TCP protocol) command for more details.
Step 11
(Optional) For firewall farm TCP protocol configuration mode, specifies the maximum number of active connections allowed on the real server at one time. See the maxconns (firewall farm TCP protocol) command for more details.
Step 12
(Optional) For firewall farm TCP protocol configuration mode, specifies that connections from the same IP address use the same firewall if both of the following conditions are met:
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See the sticky (firewall farm TCP protocol) command for more details.
Step 13
(Optional) Initiates UDP protocol configuration mode. See the udp command for more details.
Step 14
(Optional) For firewall farm UDP protocol configuration mode, specifies the minimum amount of time IOS SLB maintains connection context in the absence of packet activity. See the idle (firewall farm TCP protocol) command for more details.
Step 15
(Optional) For firewall farm UDP protocol configuration mode, specifies the maximum number of active connections allowed on the real server at one time. See the maxconns (firewall farm TCP protocol) command for more details.
Step 16
(Optional) For firewall farm UDP protocol configuration mode, specifies that connections from the same IP address use the same firewall if both of the following conditions are met:
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See the sticky (firewall farm UDP protocol) command for more details.
Step 17
Enables the firewall farm for use by IOS SLB. See the inservice (firewall farm) command for more details.
Step 18
Router(config-slb-fw-real)# exitReturn to firewall farm configuration mode.
Step 19
Router(config-slb-fw)# endReturn to global configuration mode.
When you configure IOS SLB firewall load balancing, the load-balancing devices use route lookup to recognize flows destined for the firewalls. To enable route lookup, you must configure each device with the IP address of each firewall that will route flows to that device. See the "Example of IOS SLB with Firewall Load Balancing" section for more details.
Verifying the Firewall Farm
The following show ip slb reals command displays the status of firewall farm FIRE1, the associated real servers, and their status:
Router# show ip slb realreal farm name weight state conns--------------------------------------------------------------------10.1.1.2 FIRE1 8 OPERATIONAL 010.1.2.2 FIRE1 8 OPERATIONAL 0The following show ip slb firewallfarm command displays the configuration and status of firewall farm FIRE1:
Router# show ip slb firewallfarmfirewall farm hash state reals------------------------------------------------FIRE1 IPADDR INSERVICE 2Verifying Firewall Connectivity
To verify that IOS SLB firewall load balancing has been configured and is operating correctly:
Step 1
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Router# show ip slb statsPkts via normal switching: 0Pkts via special switching: 0Connections Created: 1911871Connections Established: 1967754Connections Destroyed: 1313251Connections Reassigned: 0Zombie Count: 0Connections Reused: 59752Connection Flowcache Purges:1776582Failed Connection Allocs: 17945Failed Real Assignments: 0Router#Normal switching is when IOS SLB packets are handled on normal IOS switching paths (CEF, FastSwitching, and Process Level). Special switching is when IOS SLB packets are handled on hardware-assisted switching paths.
Step 4
Router# show ip slb real detail10.1.1.3, FIRE1, state = OPERATIONAL, type = firewallconns = 299310, dummy_conns = 0, maxconns = 4294967295weight = 10, weight(admin) = 10, metric = 104, remainder = 2total conns established = 1074779, hash count = 4646server failures = 0interface FastEthernet1/0, MAC 0010.f68f.7020Router#Step 5
Router# show ip slb connsvserver prot client real state nat-------------------------------------------------------------------------------FirewallTCP TCP 80.80.50.187:40000 10.1.1.4 ESTAB noneFirewallTCP TCP 80.80.50.187:40000 10.1.1.4 ESTAB noneFirewallTCP TCP 80.80.50.187:40000 10.1.1.4 ESTAB noneFirewallTCP TCP 80.80.50.187:40000 10.1.1.4 ESTAB noneFirewallTCP TCP 80.80.50.187:40000 10.1.1.4 ESTAB noneRouter#sh ip slb connStep 6
Enhancing Firewall Security
IOS SLB relies on a site's firewalls to protect the site from attacks. In general, IOS SLB is no more susceptible to direct attack than is any switch or router. However, a highly secure site can take the following steps to enhance its security:
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Configuring HTTP Probes
HTTP probes verify connectivity for devices being server load-balanced, and for firewalls being firewall load-balanced. For a detailed description of HTTP probes, see the "Probes" section.
To configure an HTTP probe, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Step 1
Configures the IOS SLB probe name and changes to HTTP configuration submode. See the ip slb probe (HTTP probe) command for more details.
Step 2
(Optional) Configures the HTTP probe to receive responses from an IP address. See the address (HTTP probe) command for more details.
Step 3
(Optional) Configures header values for the HTTP probe. See the credentials command for more details.
Step 4
(Optional) Configures the expected HTTP status code or regular expression. See the expect command for more details.
Step 5
(Optional) Configures header values for the HTTP probe. See the header command for more details.
Step 6
(Optional) Configures the HTTP probe transmit timers. See the interval (HTTP probe) command for more details.
Step 7
(Optional) Configures the port to which the HTTP probe is to connect. See the port command for more details.
Step 8
(Optional) Configures the URL path to request from the server, and the method used to perform the request to the server. See the request method, request url command for more details.
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To verify that the HTTP probe is configured correctly, use the following show ip slb probe command:
Router# show ip slb probeServer:Port State Outages Current Cumulative----------------------------------------------------------------10.1.1.1:80 OPERATIONAL 0 never 00:00:0010.1.1.2:80 OPERATIONAL 0 never 00:00:0010.1.1.3:80 OPERATIONAL 0 never 00:00:00Configuring Ping Probes
Ping probes verify connectivity for devices being server load-balanced, and for firewalls being firewall load-balanced. For a detailed description of ping probes, see the "Probes" section.
To configure a ping probe, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Step 1
Configures the IOS SLB probe name and changes to ping configuration submode. See the ip slb probe (ping probe) command for more details.
Step 2
(Optional) Configures the ping probe to receive responses from an IP address. See the address (ping probe) command for more details.
Step 3
(Optional) Specifies the number of consecutive unanswered pings that constitute failure of the real server. See the faildetect (ping probe) command for more details.
Step 4
(Optional) Configures the ping probe transmit timers. See the interval (ping probe) command for more details.
To verify that the ping probe is configured correctly, use the following show ip slb probe command:
Router# show ip slb probeServer:Port State Outages Current Cumulative----------------------------------------------------------------13.13.13.13:80 OPERATIONAL 0 never 00:00:00Configuring IOS SLB Dynamic Feedback Protocol
The IOS SLB Dynamic Feedback Protocol (DFP) is a mechanism that allows host agents in load-balanced environments to dynamically report the change in status of the host systems providing a virtual service. The status reported is a relative weight that specifies a host server's capacity to perform work.
To configure a DFP agent on a DFP manager (such as DistributedDirector), enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Step 1
Configures DFP and initiates DFP configuration mode, and optionally sets a password. See the ip slb dfp command for more details.
Step 2
Configures a DFP agent. See the agent command for more details.
On the DFP manager, use the following commands to:
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Router(config)# ip slb dfp password Cookies 360Router(config-slb-dfp)# agent 10.1.1.1 2221Configuring IOS SLB NAT
Cisco Network Address Translation (NAT), RFC 1631, allows unregistered "private" IP addresses to connect to the Internet by translating them into globally registered IP addresses. NAT also increases network privacy by hiding internal IP addresses from external networks. For a detailed description of NAT and the difference between "client" and "server" mode, see the "Network Address Translation (NAT) and Session Redirection" section.
To configure IOS SLB NAT for client mode, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Step 1
Configures the client address pool.
Step 2
Configures which NAT mode to use. See the nat command for more details.
The following commands configure a NAT server on server farm PUBLIC:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLICRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# nat serverTo configure IOS SLB NAT client mode for a specific server farm, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Step 1
Configures the client address pool.
Step 2
Adds a server farm definition to the IOS SLB configuration and initiates server farm configuration mode. See the ip slb serverfarm command for more details.
Step 3
Configures which NAT mode to use. See the nat command for more details.
Step 4
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# real ip-address [port_number]Identifies a real server as a member of a server farm and initiates real server configuration mode. See the real (server farm) command for more details.
Step 5
Enables the real server for use by IOS SLB. See the inservice (server farm real server) command for more details.
Step 6
Router(config-slb-real)# exitReturn to server farm configuration mode.
Step 7
Router(config-slb-real)# endReturn to global configuration mode.
Step 8
Identifies a virtual server and initiates virtual server configuration mode. See the ip slb vserver command for more details.
Implementing IOS SLB Stateless Backup
Stateless backup, based on the Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), provides high network availability by routing IP flows from hosts on Ethernet networks without relying on the availability of any single Layer 3 switch. Stateless backup is particularly useful for hosts that do not support a router discovery protocol (such as the Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System [IS-IS] Interdomain Routing Protocol [IDRP]) and do not have the functionality to shift to a new Layer 3 switch when their selected Layer 3 switch reloads or loses power.
This section discusses the following topics in detail:
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How IOS SLB Stateless Backup Works
A Layer 3 switch running the HSRP detects a failure by sending and receiving multicast User Datagram Protocol (UDP) "hello" packets. When the IOS SLB switch running HSRP detects that the designated active Layer 3 switch has failed, the selected backup Layer 3 switch assumes control of the HSRP group MAC and IP addresses. (You can also select a new standby Layer 3 switch at that time.) Both the primary and the backup Layer 3 switch must be on the same subnet.
The chosen MAC and IP addresses must be unique and must not conflict with any others on the same network segment. The MAC address is selected from a pool of Cisco MAC addresses. Configure the last byte of the MAC address by using the HSRP group number. When the HSRP is running, it selects an active Layer 3 switch and instructs its device layer to listen on an additional (dummy) MAC address.
IOS SLB switching software supports HSRP over 10/100 Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, FEC, GEC, and BVI (Bridge-Group Virtual Interface) connections.
HSRP uses a priority scheme to determine which HSRP-configured Layer 3 switch is to be the default active Layer 3 switch. To configure a Layer 3 switch as active, you assign it a priority higher than that of all other HSRP-configured Layer 3 switches. The default priority is 100, so if you configure just one Layer 3 switch to have a higher priority, that switch becomes the default active switch.
HSRP works by the exchange of multicast messages that advertise priority among HSRP-configured Layer 3 switches. When the active switch fails to send a hello message within a configurable period, the standby switch with the highest priority becomes the active switch. The transition of packet-forwarding functions between Layer 3 switches is completely transparent to all hosts accessing the network.
HSRP-configured Layer 3 switches exchange the following types of multicast messages:
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At any time, HSRP-configured Layer 3 switches are in one of the following states:
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Configuring IOS SLB Stateless Backup
Configuring stateless backup requires the following:
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To configure stateless backup over VLANs between IOS SLB switches, perform the following tasks in order:
Step 1
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For firewall load balancing, configure the firewall farms—See the "Configuring IOS SLB Firewall Load Balancing" section.
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Step 2
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A sample stateless backup configuration is shown in the "Sample IOS SLB Stateless Backup Configuration" section.
Enabling HSRP
To enable HSRP on an IOS SLB interface, enable the protocol, then customize it for the interface. Enter the following command in interface configuration mode:
Customizing Group Attributes
To customize "hot standby" group attributes, use one or more of the following commands in interface configuration mode:
Verifying the IOS SLB Stateless Backup Configuration
For server load balancing, to verify that stateless backup has been configured and is operating correctly, use the following show ip slb vservers commands to display information about the IOS SLB virtual server status:
Router# show ip slb vserversslb vserver prot virtual state conns-------------------------------------------------------------------VS1 TCP 10.10.10.12:23 OPERATIONAL 2VS2 TCP 10.10.10.18:23 OPERATIONAL 2Router# show ip slb vservers detailVS1, state = OPERATIONAL, v_index = 10virtual = 10.10.10.12:23, TCP, service = NONE, advertise = TRUEserver farm = SERVERGROUP1, delay = 10, idle = 3600sticky timer = 0, sticky subnet = 255.255.255.255sticky group id = 0synguard counter = 0, synguard period = 0conns = 0, total conns = 0, syns = 0, syn drops = 0standby group = NoneVS2, state = INOFSERVICE, v_index = 11virtual = 10.10.10.18:23, TCP, service = NONE, advertise = TRUEserver farm = SERVERGROUP2, delay = 10, idle = 3600sticky timer = 0, sticky subnet = 255.255.255.255sticky group id = 0synguard counter = 0, synguard period = 0conns = 0, total conns = 0, syns = 0, syn drops = 0standby group = NoneFor firewall load balancing, to verify that stateless backup has been configured and is operating correctly, use the following show ip slb firewallfarm commands to display information about the IOS SLB firewall farm status:
Router# show ip slb firewallfarmfirewall farm hash state reals------------------------------------------------FIRE1 IPADDR INSERVICE 2Router# show ip slb firewallfarm detailsFIRE1, hash = IPADDRPORT, state = INSERVICE, reals = 2FirewallTCP:sticky timer = 0, sticky subnet = 255.255.255.255idle = 3600, delay = 10, syns = 1965732, syn drop = 0maxconns = 4294967295, conns = 597445, total conns = 1909512FirewallUDP:sticky timer = 0, sticky subnet = 255.255.255.255idle = 3600maxconns = 1, conns = 0, total conns = 1Real firewalls:10.1.1.3, weight = 10, OPERATIONAL, conns = 29882310.1.1.4, weight = 10, OPERATIONAL, conns = 298622Total connections = 597445Sample IOS SLB Stateless Backup Configuration
The following commands enable the HSRP standby group 100 IP address, priority, preempt, timers, configure a name and authentication for Device A in Figure 7:
Router(config-if)# standby 100 ip 172.20.100.10Router(config-if)# standby 100 priority 110Router(config-if)# standby 100 preempt delay 910Router(config-if)# standby 100 timers 5 15Router(config-if)# standby 100 name Web-Group1Router(config-if)# standby 100 authentication SecretRouter(config-if)# exitRouter#Configuring IOS SLB Stateful Backup
Stateful backup enables IOS SLB to incrementally back up its load-balancing decisions, or "keep state," between primary and backup switches. The backup switch has its virtual servers in a dormant state until HSRP detects failover; then the backup (now primary) switch begins advertising virtual addresses and filtering flows. You can use HSRP to configure how quickly the failover is detected.
This enhancement provides IOS SLB with a one-to-one stateful or idle backup scheme. This means that only one instance of IOS SLB is handling client or server flows at a given time, and that there is at most one backup platform for each active IOS SLB switch.
To configure stateful backup to keep state across primary and backup Layer 3 switches, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Configuring Stateful Backup for Server Load Balancing
To configure stateful backup to keep state across primary and backup Layer 3 switches in a server load-balancing environment, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Step 1
Configures a virtual server and enters virtual server configuration mode.
Step 2
Configures a stateful backup of IOS SLB decision tables to a backup switch. See the replicate casa (virtual server) command for more details.
The following commands configure stateful backup for virtual server RESTRICTED_HTTP using listening IP 10.10.3.132 and remote IP 10.10.99.3 over port 1032 and configures the password as PASS for Device A in Figure 12:
Router(config)# ip slb vserver RESTRICTED_HTTPRouter(config-slb-vserver)# virtual 10.10.10.12 tcp telnetRouter(config-slb-vserver)# replicate casa 10.10.3.132 10.10.99.3 1032 password PASSRouter(config-slb-vserver)# inservice standby virtRouter(config-slb-vserver)#.(Information Deleted)Configuring Stateful Backup for Firewall Load Balancing
To configure stateful backup to keep state across primary and backup Layer 3 switches in a firewall load-balancing environment, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Step 1
Configures a firewall farm and enters firewall farm configuration mode.
Step 2
Configures a stateful backup of IOS SLB decision tables to a backup switch. See the replicate casa (firewall farm) command for more details.
Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature
To obtain and display runtime information about IOS SLB, use the following commands in EXEC mode:
Displays all connections handled by IOS SLB, or, optionally, only those connections associated with a particular virtual server or client. See the show ip slb conns command for more details.
Displays information about DFP and DFP agents, and about the weights assigned to real servers. See the show ip slb dfp command for more details.
Displays information about firewall farms. See the show ip slb firewallfarm command for more details.
Displays information about HTTP and ping probes defined to IOS SLB. See the show ip slb probe command for more details.
Displays information about the real servers defined to IOS SLB. See the show ip slb reals command for more details.
Router# show ip slb replicateDisplays information about the IOS SLB replication configuration. See the show ip slb replicate command for more details.
Displays information about the server farms defined to IOS SLB. See the show ip slb serverfarms command for more details.
Displays IOS SLB statistics. See the show ip slb stats command for more details.
Displays information about the sticky connections defined to IOS SLB. See the show ip slb sticky command for more details.
Displays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB. See the show ip slb vservers command for more details.
Configuration Examples
This section provides real-world examples of IOS SLB configurations and includes the following sections:
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Complete Example Configuration
The following example provides a complete configuration using the commands described in this feature module:
Router# show running-configBuilding configuration...Current configuration:!.(Information Deleted).ip slb probe PROBE2 httprequest method POST url /probe.cgi?allheader Cookie Monsterheader Authorization Basic U2VtaXN3ZWV0OmNoaXBz!ip slb serverfarm PUBLICnat serverreal 10.1.1.1reassign 4faildetect numconns 16retry 120inservicereal 10.1.1.2reassign 4faildetect numconns 16retry 120inservicereal 10.1.1.3reassign 4faildetect numconns 16retry 120inserviceprobe PROBE2!ip slb serverfarm RESTRICTEDpredictor leastconnsbindid 309real 10.1.1.1weight 32maxconns 1000reassign 4faildetect numconns 16retry 120inservicereal 10.1.1.20reassign 4faildetect numconns 16retry 120inservicereal 10.1.1.21reassign 4faildetect numconns 16retry 120inservice!ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTPvirtual 10.0.0.1 tcp wwwserverfarm PUBLICno inservice!ip slb vserver RESTRICTED_HTTPvirtual 10.0.0.2 tcp wwwserverfarm RESTRICTEDno advertisesticky 60 group 1idle 120delay 5client 10.4.4.0 255.255.255.0synguard 3600000inservice!Example of a Layer 3 Switch with ISL, VLAN, and BVI with GEC
This example configuration focuses on both the Inter-Switch Link (ISL) and virtual LANs (VLANs), as well as integrated routing and bridging (IRB) using a bridge-group virtual interface (BVI) over Gigabit EtherChannel (GEC). The Cisco proprietary ISL allows any Fast Ethernet port to be configured as a trunk. The Spanning-Tree Protocol detects and breaks loops on all the VLANs carried across the trunk.
The Gigabit Ethernet interface information applies to both two-port and eight-port Gigabit Ethernet interfaces for a Catalyst 8540 campus Layer 3 switch. This example also includes port snooping and Network Time Protocol (NTP) configurations.
!ip subnet-zerono ip domain-lookupip name-server 171.69.2.132ip name-server 198.92.30.32ip multicast-routingip dvmrp route-limit 20000bridge irb!interface FastEthernet1no ip addressno ip directed-broadcastno keepalive!interface FastEthernet1.128ip address 172.68.16.10 255.255.255.0ip helper-address 172.68.16.15no ip redirectsno ip directed-broadcastip pim dense-modeip multicast ttl-threshold 1encapsulation isl 128!interface FastEthernet1.199ip address 172.68.17.15 255.255.255.0ip helper-address 172.68.16.16ip helper-address 172.68.16.17ip helper-address 172.68.16.18no ip redirectsno ip directed-broadcastip pim dense-modeip multicast ttl-threshold 1encapsulation isl 199!interface FastEthernet1.201ip address 172.68.18.10 255.255.255.0ip helper-address 172.68.16.16ip helper-address 172.68.16.17ip helper-address 172.68.16.18no ip redirectsno ip directed-broadcastip pim dense-modeip multicast ttl-threshold 1encapsulation isl 201!interface FastEthernet2no ip addressno ip directed-broadcastno keepaliveshutdown!interface FastEthernet3no ip addressno ip directed-broadcastno keepaliveshutdown!interface FastEthernet4no ip addressno ip directed-broadcastno keepaliveshutdown!interface FastEthernet5no ip addressno ip directed-broadcastno keepaliveshutdown!interface FastEthernet6no ip addressno ip directed-broadcastno keepaliveshutdown!interface FastEthernet7no ip addressno ip directed-broadcastno keepaliveshutdown!interface FastEthernet8no ip addressno ip directed-broadcastno keepaliveshutdown!interface FastEthernet9ip address 172.68.19.10 255.255.255.0ip helper-address 172.68.16.16ip helper-address 172.68.16.17ip helper-address 172.68.16.18no ip redirectsno ip directed-broadcastip pim dense-modeip multicast ttl-threshold 1ip sdr listenno keepalive!interface FastEthernet10no ip addressno ip directed-broadcastno keepaliveshutdown!interface FastEthernet11no ip addressno ip directed-broadcastno keepaliveshutdown!.(Information Deleted).interface GigabitEthernet41snoop interface FastEthernet3 direction bothsnoop interface FastEthernet5 direction bothsnoop interface FastEthernet6 direction bothip address 172.68.21.10 255.255.255.0ip helper-address 172.68.16.19ip helper-address 172.68.16.20ip helper-address 172.68.16.21!interface GigabitEthernet42ip address 172.68.1.1 255.255.255.0no ip directed-broadcastip pim sparse-dense-mode!interface BVI1ip address 171.201.1.2 255.255.255.0no ip directed-broadcastip pim dense-modeno ip route-cache cef!interface Ethernet0ip address 172.68.20.10 255.255.255.0no ip directed-broadcast!router eigrp 170network 171.200.0.0network 171.201.0.0network 172.68.0.0network 172.69.0.0no auto-summary!router bgp 180network 172.68.1.0network 172.69.1.0no auto-summary!ip classless!bridge 1 protocol ieeebridge 1 route ip!ip http server!line con 0line aux 0line vty 0 4login!ntp clock-period 17181168ntp update-calendarntp server 171.71.150.52ntp server 171.69.4.143ntp server 171.69.5.10endExample of IOS SLB with Firewall Load Balancing
Figure 3 shows a sample IOS SLB firewall load-balancing network with the following components:
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Figure 3 IOS SLB with Layer 3 Firewalls in Different Subnets
When you configure IOS SLB firewall load balancing, the load-balancing devices use route lookup to recognize flows destined for the firewalls. To enable route lookup, you must configure each device with the IP address of each firewall that will route flows to that device.
In the following farm configuration samples:
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Internal Firewall Load-Balancing Device
The following commands configure ping probe PROBE1, HTTP probe PROBE2, and firewall farm FIRE1, and associate the two real servers for the load-balancing device on the internal (secure) side of the firewall:
router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE1 ping ; Ping proberouter(config-slb-probe)# address 10.1.1.1 ; IP address of other load-balancing devicerouter(config-slb-probe)# faildetect 4router(config-slb-probe)# ip slb probe PROBE2 http ; HTTP proberouter(config-slb-probe)# address 10.1.2.1 ; IP address of other load-balancing devicerouter(config-slb-probe)# expect status 401router(config-slb-probe)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1 ; Firewall farm FIRE1router(config-slb-fw)# real 10.1.4.1 ; First firewallrouter(config-slb-fw-real)# probe PROBE1router(config-slb-fw-real)# inservice ; Enable first firewallrouter(config-slb-fw-real)# real 10.1.3.1 ; Second firewallrouter(config-slb-fw-real)# probe PROBE2router(config-slb-fw-real)# inservice ; Enable second firewallrouter(config-slb-fw-real)# exitrouter(config-slb-fw)# inservice ; Turn on firewall load-balancing deviceExternal Firewall Load-Balancing Device
The following commands configure ping probe PROBE1, HTTP probe PROBE2, and firewall farm FIRE1, and associate the two real servers for the load-balancing device on the external (Internet) side of the firewall:
router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE1 ping ; Ping proberouter(config-slb-probe)# address 10.1.4.2 ; IP address of other load-balancing devicerouter(config-slb-probe)# faildetect 4router(config-slb-probe)# ip slb probe PROBE2 http ; HTTP proberouter(config-slb-probe)# address 10.1.3.2 ; IP address of other load-balancing devicerouter(config-slb-probe)# expect status 401router(config-slb-probe)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1 ; Firewall farm FIRE1router(config-slb-fw)# real 10.1.1.2 ; First firewallrouter(config-slb-fw-real)# probe PROBE1router(config-slb-fw-real)# inservice ; Enable first firewallrouter(config-slb-fw-real)# real 10.1.2.2 ; Second firewallrouter(config-slb-fw-real)# probe PROBE2router(config-slb-fw-real)# inservice ; Enable second firewallrouter(config-slb-fw-real)# exitrouter(config-slb-fw)# inservice ; Turn on firewall load-balancing deviceExample of IOS SLB with Probes
Figure 4 shows an example configuration with IOS SLB real server connections configured as part of a server farm, focusing on using ping and HTTP probe to monitor applications being server load-balanced.
Figure 4 Sample Ping and HTTP Probe Topology
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The topology shown in Figure 4 is a heterogeneous server farm servicing a single virtual server. Following are the configuration statements for this topology, including a ping probe named PROBE1 and an HTTP probe named PROBE2:
! Configure ping probe PROBE1, change CLI to IOS SLB probe configuration modeRouter(config)# ip slb probe PROBE1 ping! Configure probe to receive responses from IP address 13.13.13.13Router(config-slb-probe)# address 13.13.13.13! Configure unanswered ping threshold to 16Router(config-slb-probe)# faildetect 16! Configure ping probe timer interval to transmit every 11 secondsRouter(config-slb-probe)# interval 11! Configure HTTP probe PROBE2Router(config-slb-probe)# ip slb probe PROBE2 http! Configure request method as POST, set URL as /probe.cgi?allRouter(config-slb-probe)# request method post url /probe.cgi?all! Configure header CookieRouter(config-slb-probe)# header Cookie Monster! Configure basic authentication username and passwordRouter(config-slb-probe)# credentials Semisweet chips! Exit to global configuration modeRouter(config-slb-probe)# exit! Enter IOS SLB server farm configuration mode for server farm PUBLICRouter(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC! Configure NAT server and real servers on the server farmRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# nat serverRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.1Router(config-slb-sfarm)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.2Router(config-slb-sfarm)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.3Router(config-slb-sfarm)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.4Router(config-slb-sfarm)# inserviceRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.5Router(config-slb-sfarm)# inservice! Configure ping probe on the server farmRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# probe PROBE1! Configure HTTP probe on the server farmRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# probe PROBE2Router(config-slb-sfarm)# endExample of a Layer 3 Switch Configured with IOS SLB
Figure 5 shows an example configuration with IOS SLB server connections configured as part of a server farm, using real and virtual servers over Fast Ethernet interfaces.
Figure 5 Network Configuration for IOS SLB
As shown in the following sample configuration, the example topology has three public Web servers and two restricted Web servers for privileged clients in subnet 10.4.4.x. The public Web servers are weighted according to their capacity, with server 10.1.1.2 having the lowest capacity and having a connection limit imposed on it. The restricted Web servers are configured as members of the same sticky group, so that HTTP connections and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connections from the same client use the same real server.
The network configuration to provide the previously described IOS SLB functionality follows:
! Unrestricted Web server farmip slb serverfarm PUBLIC! Use weighted least connections algorithmpredictor leastconns! First real serverreal 10.1.1.1weight 16reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice! Second real serverreal 10.1.1.2weight 4! Restrict maximum number of connectionsmaxconns 1000reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice! Third real serverreal 10.1.1.3weight 24reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice! Restricted Web server farmip slb serverfarm RESTRICTED! Use weighted least connections algorithmpredictor leastconns! First real serverreal 10.1.1.20reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice! Second real serverreal 10.1.1.21reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice!! Unrestricted Web virtual serverip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTP! Handle HTTP requestsvirtual 10.0.0.1 tcp www! Use public Web server farmserverfarm PUBLICidle 120delay 5inservice!! Restricted HTTP virtual serverip slb vserver RESTRICTED_HTTP! Handle HTTP requestsvirtual 10.0.0.1 tcp www! Use restricted Web server farmserverfarm RESTRICTED! Only allow clients from 10.4.4.xclient 10.4.4.0 255.255.255.0! Couple connections with RESTRICTED_SSLsticky 60 group 1idle 120delay 5inservice!! Restricted SSL virtual serverip slb vserver RESTRICTED_SSL! Handle SSL requestsvirtual 10.0.0.1 tcp https! Use restricted Web server farmserverfarm RESTRICTED! Only allow clients from 10.4.4.xclient 10.4.4.0 255.255.255.0! Couple connections with RESTRICTED_WEBsticky 60 group 1idle 120delay 5inserviceExample of IOS SLB with NAT
Figure 6 shows an example configuration with IOS SLB real server connections configured as part of a server farm, focusing on the configuration of the NAT server and address pool of clients.
Figure 6 Sample IOS SLB NAT Topology
The topology in Figure 6 has four Web servers, configured as follows:
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Server 1 and Server 2 are load-balanced using Switch A, which is performing server address translation.
Server 3 and Server 4 are load-balanced using Switch B and Switch C. These two switches are performing both server and client address translation since there are multiple paths between the clients and the servers. These switches also must perform server port translation for HTTP packets to and from Server 4.
Switch A Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm FARM1! Translate server addressesnat server! Server 1 port 80real 10.1.1.1reassign 2faildetect numconns 4 numclients 2retry 20inservice! Server 2 port 80real 10.2.1.1reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice!ip slb vserver HTTP1! Handle HTTP (port 80) requestsvirtual 128.1.0.1 tcp wwwserverfarm FARM1idle 120delay 5inserviceSwitch B Configuration Statements
ip slb natpool web-clients 128.3.0.1 128.3.0.254! NAT address pool for clientsip slb serverfarm FARM2! Translate server addressesnat server! Translate client addressesnat client web-clients! Server 3 port 80real 10.3.1.1reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice! Server 4 port 8080real 10.4.1.1 port 8080reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice! Server 4 port 8081real 10.4.1.1 port 8081reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice! Server 4 port 8082real 10.4.1.1 port 8082reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice!ip slb vserver HTTP2! Handle HTTP (port 80) requestsvirtual 128.2.0.1 tcp wwwserverfarm FARM2idle 120delay 5inserviceSwitch C Configuration Statements
ip slb natpool web-clients 128.5.0.1 128.5.0.254! NAT address pool for clientsip slb serverfarm FARM2! Translate server addressesnat server! Translate client addressesnat client web-clients! Server 3 port 80real 10.3.1.1reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice! Server 4 port 8080real 10.4.1.1 port 8080reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice! Server 4 port 8081real 10.4.1.1 port 8081reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice! Server 4 port 8082real 10.4.1.1 port 8082reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice!ip slb vserver HTTP2! Handle HTTP (port 80) requestsvirtual 128.4.0.1 tcp wwwserverfarm FARM2idle 120delay 5inserviceExample of an IOS Layer 3 Switch with HSRP
This example configuration for an IOS Layer 3 switch focuses on the HSRP, which provides high network availability. HSRP makes network topology changes transparent to the host. The active router is monitored by other standby routers, and as soon as an active router becomes unavailable, the standby router takes its place. Helper addresses facilitate connectivity by forwarding certain broadcasts to a target server.
Figure 7 shows the topology of an IP network with two Layer 3 switches configured for HSRP.
Figure 7 HSRP Example Network Topology
In this network:
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If the connection between Device A and the client accessing virtual server IP address 10.10.10.12 tcp 23 or 10.10.10.18 tcp 23 fails, fast converging routing protocols, such as OSPF and the Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (Enhanced IGRP), can respond within seconds, ensuring that Device B is prepared to transfer packets that would have gone through Device A.
Device A (Active) Configuration Statements
hostname Device A!ip slb serverfarm ServerGroup1real 172.20.100.3inservicereal 172.20.100.4inservice!ip slb serverfarm ServerGroup2real 172.20.200.3inservicereal 172.20.200.4inservice!ip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.10.12 tcp 23serverfarm ServerGroup1in-service standby Web-Group1!ip slb vserver VS2virtual 10.10.10.18 tcp 23serverfarm ServerGroup2in-service standby Web-Group2!ip routingrouter ripnetwork 172.20.0.0!interface vlan100ip address 172.20.100.1 255.255.255.0standby 100 ip 172.20.100.10standby 100 priority 110standby 100 preempt delay 910standby 100 timers 5 15standby 100 name Web-Group1standby 100 authentication Secret!interface vlan200ip address 172.20.200.1 255.255.255.0standby 200 ip 172.20.200.10standby 200 priority 110standby 200 preempt delay 910standby 200 timers 5 15standby 200 name Web-Group2standby 200 authentication Covert!Device B (Standby) Configuration Statements
hostname Device B!ip slb serverfarm ServerGroup1real 172.20.100.3inservicereal 172.20.100.4inservice!ip slb serverfarm ServerGroup2real 172.20.200.3inservicereal 172.20.200.4inservice!ip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.10.12 tcp 23serverfarm ServerGroup1in-service standby Web-Group1!ip slb vserver VS2virtual 10.10.10.18 tcp 23serverfarm ServerGroup2in-service standby Web-Group2!ip routingrouter ripnetwork 172.20.0.0!interface vlan100ip address 172.20.100.2 255.255.255.0standby 100 ip 172.20.100.10standby 100 preempt delay 910standby 100 timers 5 15standby 100 name Web-Group1standby 100 authentication Secret!interface vlan200ip address 172.20.200.2 255.255.255.0standby 200 ip 172.20.200.10standby 200 preempt delay 910standby 200 timers 5 15standby 200 name Web-Group2standby 200 authentication CovertDescription of Configuration
The standby ip interface configuration command enables HSRP and establishes 10.10.10.12 and 10.10.10.18 as the IP addresses of the virtual servers. The configurations of both Layer 3 switches include this command so that both switches share the same virtual IP address. The numbers 100 and 200 establish Hot Standby groups 100 and 200. (If you do not specify a group number, the default is group 0.) The numbers 100 and 200 in the following commands indicate that they apply to Hot Standby groups 100 and 200, respectively. The configuration for at least one of the Layer 3 switches in the Hot Standby group must specify the IP address of the virtual server; specifying the IP address of the virtual router is optional for other routers in the same Hot Standby group.
The standby preempt interface configuration command allows the Layer 3 switch to become the active switch when its priority is higher than all other HSRP-configured switches in this Hot Standby group. The configurations of both switches include this command so that each can be the standby Layer 3 switch for the other switch. If you do not use the standby preempt command in the configuration for a Layer 3 switch, that switch cannot become the active Layer 3 switch.
The standby priority interface configuration command sets the Layer 3 switch's HSRP priority to 110, which is higher than the default priority of 100. Only the configuration of Device A includes this command, which makes Device A the default active Layer 3 switch.
The standby timers interface configuration command sets the interval (in seconds) between hello messages (called the hello time) to five seconds, and sets the interval (in seconds) that a Layer 3 switch waits before it declares the active Layer 3 switch to be down (called the hold time) to eight seconds. (The defaults are three and 10 seconds, respectively.) To modify the default values, you must configure each Layer 3 switch to use the same hello time and hold time.
The standby name interface configuration command associates the IOS SLB interface with an HSRP group name (in this case, Web-Group1 and Web-Group2), previously specified on an inservice (server farm virtual server) command.
The standby authentication interface configuration command establishes an authentication string whose value is an unencrypted eight-character string that is incorporated in each HSRP multicast message. This command is optional. If you choose to use it, each HSRP-configured Layer 3 switch in the group should use the same string so that each switch can authenticate the source of the HSRP messages that it receives.
Examples of IOS SLB with Stateless Backup
There are several different ways in which you can configure IOS SLB stateless backup. The differences between the configurations depend on the networking capabilities of your load balancing devices, and on the capabilities of the distribution devices that direct client traffic to those load balancing devices.
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This section contains the following examples, illustrating several different IOS SLB stateless backup configurations:
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Example with Dynamic Routing and Trunking
Figure 8 shows a sample IOS SLB stateless backup configuration with the following characteristics:
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Figure 8 Stateless Backup with Layer 3 and Trunking
SLB 1 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm SF1real 10.10.1.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4 numclients 2retry 20inservicereal 10.10.1.4reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.14.1 tcp wwwserverfarm SF1idle 120delay 5inservice standby SERVER...int Eth1switchportswitchport vlan 1int Eth2ip address 10.10.2.1 255.255.255.0int vlan 1ip address 10.10.1.1 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.1.100standby priority 10 preempt delay 910standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2router eigrp 666redistribute staticnetwork 10.0.0.0SLB 2 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm SF1real 10.10.1.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservicereal 10.10.1.4reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.14.1 tcp wwwserverfarm SF1idle 120delay 5inservice standby SERVER...int Gig1no ip addressswitchportswitchport trunk encapsulation islint Eth1switchportswitchport vlan 1int Eth2ip address 10.10.3.1 255.255.255.0int vlan 1ip address 10.10.1.2 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.1.100standby priority 5 preempt delay 910standby name SERVERrouter eigrp 666redistribute staticnetwork 10.0.0.0Example with Dynamic Routing and No Trunking
Figure 9 shows a sample IOS SLB stateless backup configuration with the following characteristics:
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Figure 9 Stateless Backup with Layer 3 and No Trunking
SLB 1 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm SF1real 10.10.1.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservicereal 10.10.1.4reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.14.1 tcp wwwserverfarm SF1idle 120delay 5inservice standby SERVER...int Eth1ip address 10.10.1.1 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.1.100standby priority 10 preempt delay 910standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2int Eth2ip address 10.10.2.1 255.255.255.0router eigrp 666redistribute staticnetwork 10.0.0.0SLB 2 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm SF1real 10.10.1.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservicereal 10.10.1.4reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.14.1 tcp wwwserverfarm SF1idle 120delay 5inservice standby SERVER...int Eth1ip address 10.10.1.2 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.1.100standby priority 5 preempt delay 910standby name SERVERint Eth2ip address 10.10.3.1 255.255.255.0router eigrp 666redistribute staticnetwork 10.0.0.0Example with Static Routing and Trunking
Figure 10 shows a sample IOS SLB stateless backup configuration with the following characteristics:
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Figure 10 Stateless Backup with Layer 2 and Trunking
SLB 1 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm SF1real 10.10.1.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservicereal 10.10.1.4reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.14.1 tcp wwwserverfarm SF1idle 120delay 5inservice standby SERVER...int Eth1switchportswitchport vlan 1int Eth2ip address 10.10.2.1 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.2.100standby priority 10 preempt delay 910standby track vlan1int vlan 1ip address 10.10.1.1 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.1.100standby priority 10 preempt delay 910standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2SLB 2 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm SF1real 10.10.1.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservicereal 10.10.1.4reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.14.1 tcp wwwserverfarm SF1idle 120delay 5inservice standby SERVER...int Gig1no ip addressswitchportswitchport trunk encapsulation islint Eth1switchportswitchport vlan 1int Eth2ip address 10.10.2.2 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.2.100standby priority 5 preempt delay 910int vlan 1ip address 10.10.1.2 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.1.100standby priority 5 preempt delay 910standby name SERVERDistribution Device Configuration Statements
int Eth1switchportswitchport distribution vlan 2int Eth2switchportswitchport distribution vlan 2int vlan2ip address 10.10.2.3 255.255.255.0no shutip route 10.10.14.1 255.255.255.255 10.10.2.100Example with Static Routing and No Trunking
Figure 11 shows a sample IOS SLB stateless backup configuration with the following characteristics:
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Figure 11 Stateless Backup with Layer 2 and No Trunking
SLB 1 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm SF1real 10.10.1.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservicereal 10.10.1.4reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.14.1 tcp wwwserverfarm SF1idle 120delay 5inservice standby SERVER...int Eth1ip address 10.10.1.1 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.1.100standby priority 10 preempt delay 910standby name SERVERstandby track eth2int Eth2ip address 10.10.2.1 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.2.100standby priority 10 preempt delay 910standby track eth1SLB 2 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm SF1real 10.10.1.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservicereal 10.10.1.4reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.14.1 tcp wwwserverfarm SF1idle 120delay 5inservice standby SERVER...int Eth1ip address 10.10.1.2 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.1.100standby priority 5 preempt delay 910standby name SERVERint Eth2ip address 10.10.2.2 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.2.100standby priority 5 preempt delay 910Distribution Device Configuration Statements
int Eth1switchportswitchport distribution vlan 2int Eth2switchportswitchport distribution vlan 2int vlan2ip address 10.10.2.3 255.255.255.0no shutip route 10.10.14.1 255.255.255.255 10.10.2.100Example of IOS SLB with Stateful Backup
This example configuration focuses on the IOS SLB real server connections configured as part of a server farm, with real and virtual servers over Fast Ethernet interfaces configured with stateful backup standby connections.
Figure 12 is an example of a stateful backup configuration, using HSRP on both the client and server sides to handle failover. The real servers route outbound flows to 10.10.3.100, which is the HSRP address on the server side interfaces. The client (or access router), routes to the virtual IP address (10.10.10.12) through 10.10.2.100, HSRP address on the client side.
Notice the loopback interfaces configured on both boxes for the exchange of these messages. Each IOS SLB should also be given duplicate routes to the other switch loopback address. This allows replication messages to flow despite an interface failure.
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Figure 12 IOS SLB Stateful Environment
Switch SLB1 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm SF1nat serverreal 10.10.3.1inservicereal 10.10.3.2inservicereal 10.10.3.3inservice!ip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.10.12 tcp telnetserverfarm SF1replicate casa 10.10.99.132 10.10.99.99 1024 password PASSinservice standby virt!interface Loopback1ip address 10.10.99.132 255.255.255.255!interface FastEthernet1ip address 10.10.3.132 255.255.255.0no ip redirectsno ip mroute-cachestandby priority 5 preempt delay 910standby name outstandby ip 10.10.3.100standby track FastEthernet2!interface FastEthernet2ip address 10.10.2.132 255.255.255.0no ip redirectsstandby priority 5 preempt delay 910standby name virtstandby ip 10.10.2.100standby track FastEthernet1Switch SLB2 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm SF1nat serverreal 10.10.3.1inservicereal 10.10.3.2inservicereal 10.10.3.3inservice!ip slb vserver VS1virtual 10.10.10.12 tcp telnetserverfarm SF1replicate casa 10.10.99.99 10.10.99.132 1024 password PASSinservice standby virt!interface Loopback1ip address 10.10.99.99 255.255.255.255!interface FastEthernet2ip address 10.10.2.99 255.255.255.0no ip redirectsno ip route-cacheno ip mroute-cachestandby priority 10 preempt delay 910standby name virtstandby ip 10.10.2.100standby track FastEthernet3!interface FastEthernet3ip address 10.10.3.99 255.255.255.0no ip redirectsno ip route-cacheno ip mroute-cachestandby priority 10 preempt delay 910standby name outstandby ip 10.10.3.100standby track FastEthernet2Example of IOS SLB with Active Standby
Figure 13 shows an IOS SLB network configured for active standby, with two IOS SLB devices load-balancing the same virtual IP address while backing up each other. If either device fails, the other takes over its load via normal HSRP failover and IOS SLB stateless redundancy.
Figure 13 IOS SLB Active Standby
The sample network configuration in Figure 13 has the following characteristics:
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SLB 1 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm EVENnat serverreal 10.10.3.2reassign 2faildetect numconns 4 numclients 2retry 20inservicereal 10.10.3.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice!ip slb serverfarm ODDnat serverreal 10.10.3.2reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservicereal 10.10.3.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice!ip slb vserver EVEN ; Same EVEN virtual server as in SLB 2virtual 10.10.10.12 tcp wwwserverfarm EVENclient 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.1idle 120delay 5inservice standby STANDBY_EVEN ; See standby name in Ethernet 3/3 below!ip slb vserver ODD ; Same ODD virtual server as in SLB 2virtual 10.10.10.12 tcp wwwserverfarm ODDclient 0.0.0.1 0.0.0.1idle 120delay 5inservice standby STANDBY_ODD ; See standby name in Ethernet 3/2 below!interface Ethernet3/2ip address 10.10.5.132 255.255.255.0standby priority 20 preempt delay 910standby name STANDBY_ODD ; See standby name in SLB 2, Ethernet 3/5standby ip 10.10.5.100!interface Ethernet3/3ip address 10.10.2.132 255.255.255.0standby priority 10standby name STANDBY_EVEN ; See standby name in SLB 2, Ethernet 3/1standby ip 10.10.2.100SLB 2 Configuration Statements
ip slb serverfarm EVENnat serverreal 10.10.3.4reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservicereal 10.10.3.5reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice!ip slb serverfarm ODDnat serverreal 10.10.3.4reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservicereal 10.10.3.5reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inservice!ip slb vserver EVEN ; Same EVEN virtual server as in SLB 1virtual 10.10.10.12 tcp wwwserverfarm EVENclient 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.1idle 120delay 5inservice standby STANDBY_EVEN ; See standby name in Ethernet 3/1 below!ip slb vserver ODD ; Same ODD virtual server as in SLB 1virtual 10.10.10.12 tcp wwwserverfarm ODDclient 0.0.0.1 0.0.0.1idle 120delay 5inservice standby STANDBY_ODD ; See standby name in Ethernet 3/5 below!interface Ethernet3/1ip address 10.10.2.128 255.255.255.0standby priority 20 preempt delay 910standby name STANDBY_EVEN ; See standby name in SLB 1, Ethernet 3/3standby ip 10.10.2.100!interface Ethernet3/5ip address 10.10.5.128 255.255.255.0standby priority 10 preempt delay 910standby name STANDBY_ODD ; See standby name in SLB 1, Ethernet 3/2standby ip 10.10.5.100Access Router Configuration Statements
interface Ethernet0/0ip address 10.10.5.183 255.255.255.0no ip directed-broadcastno ip route-cacheno ip mroute-cache!interface Ethernet0/1ip address 10.10.2.183 255.255.255.0no ip directed-broadcastno ip route-cacheno ip mroute-cache!interface Ethernet0/2ip address 10.10.6.183 255.255.255.0no ip directed-broadcastno ip route-cacheno ip mroute-cacheip policy route-map virts!access-list 100 permit ip 0.0.0.1 255.255.255.254 host 10.10.10.12access-list 101 permit ip 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.254 host 10.10.10.12route-map virts permit 10match ip address 100set ip next-hop 10.10.5.100!route-map virts permit 15match ip address 101set ip next-hop 10.10.2.100!Example of IOS SLB with Redistribution of Static Routes
Figure 14 shows an IOS SLB network configured to distribute static routes to a virtual server's IP address. The route to the address is added to the routing table as static if you advertise the address when you bring the virtual server into service (using the inservice command). See the advertise command for more details about advertising virtual server IP addresses.
Because the routing configuration varies from protocol to protocol, sample configurations for several different routing protocols are given.
Figure 14 IOS SLB Redistribution of Static Routes
Routing Information Protocol (RIP)
Following is the RIP static route redistribution configuration for the IOS SLB switch shown in Figure 14:
router ripredistribute staticnetwork 10.0.0.0network 8.0.0.0Following is the RIP static route redistribution configuration for the access router that is listening for routing updates shown in Figure 14:
router ripnetwork 10.0.0.0network 8.0.0.0Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
Following is the OSPF static route redistribution configuration for the IOS SLB switch shown in Figure 14:
router ospf 1redistribute static subnetsnetwork 10.10.6.217 0.0.0.0 area 0network 8.8.8.0 0.0.0.255 area 0Following is the OSPF static route redistribution configuration for the access router that is listening for routing updates shown in Figure 14:
router ospf 1network 10.10.6.2 0.0.0.0 area 0network 8.8.8.0 0.0.0.255 area 0Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP)
Following is the IGRP static route redistribution configuration for the IOS SLB switch shown in Figure 14:
router igrp 1redistribute connectedredistribute staticnetwork 8.0.0.0network 10.0.0.0Following is the IGRP static route redistribution configuration for the access router that is listening for routing updates shown in Figure 14:
router igrp 1network 8.0.0.0network 10.0.0.0Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (Enhanced IGRP)
Following is the Enhanced IGRP static route redistribution configuration for the IOS SLB switch shown in Figure 14:
router eigrp 666redistribute staticnetwork 10.0.0.0network 8.0.0.0Following is the Enhanced IGRP static route redistribution configuration for the access router that is listening for routing updates shown in Figure 14:
router eigrp 666network 10.0.0.0network 8.0.0.0Example of IOS SLB with WAP Load Balancing
Figure 15 shows an IOS SLB network configured to balance WAP flows on UDP port 9203 (WSP/WTP/WTLS/UDP). In this example:
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Figure 15 IOS SLB with WAP Load Balancing
IOS SLB Device Configuration Statements
ip slb probe PROBE1 ping!ip slb serverfarm WAPFARMnat serverreal 10.10.2.1inservicereal 10.10.2.2inserviceprobe PROBE1!ip slb vserver VSERVERvirtual 10.10.1.1 udp 9203serverfarm WAPFARMidle 3000inserviceCommand Reference
This section documents new or modified commands. All other commands used with this feature are documented in the Cisco IOS Release 12.1 and 12.1(3)T command reference publications.
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address (HTTP probe)
To specify that an HTTP probe is to receive responses from an IP address, use the address HTTP probe configuration command. To restore the default settings, use the no form of this command.
address [ip-address]
no address [ip-address]
Syntax Description
Defaults
If the HTTP probe is associated with a firewall farm, you must specify an ip-address.
If the HTTP probe is associated with a server farm, and you do not specify an ip-address, the address is inherited from the server farm real servers.
Command Modes
HTTP probe configuration
Command History
Examples
The following example configures an HTTP probe named PROBE2, changes the CLI to IOS SLB HTTP probe submode, and configures the probe to receive responses from IP address 13.13.13.13:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE2 httpRouter(config-slb-probe)# address 13.13.13.13Related Commands
Configures the IP IOS SLB probe name.
Displays an IOS SLB HTTP or ping probe configuration.
address (ping probe)
To specify that a ping probe is to receive responses from an IP address, use the address ping probe configuration command. To restore the default settings, use the no form of this command.
address [ip-address]
no address [ip-address]
Syntax Description
Defaults
If the ping probe is associated with a firewall farm, you must specify an ip-address.
If the ping probe is associated with a server farm, and you do not specify an ip-address, the address is inherited from the server farm real servers.
Command Modes
Ping probe configuration
Command History
Examples
The following example configures a ping probe named PROBE1, changes the CLI to IOS SLB HTTP probe submode, and configures the probe to receive responses from IP address 13.13.13.13:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE1 pingRouter(config-slb-probe)# address 13.13.13.13Related Commands
Configures the IP IOS SLB probe name.
Displays an IOS SLB HTTP or ping probe configuration.
advertise
By default, virtual server addresses are advertised. That is, static routes to the Null0 interface are installed for the virtual server addresses.
To control the installation of a static route to the Null0 interface for a virtual server address, use the advertise virtual server configuration command. Advertisement of this static route using the routing protocol requires that you configure redistribution of static routes for the routing protocol. To prevent the installation of a static route for the virtual server IP address, use the no form of this command.
advertise
no advertise
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
The virtual server IP address is added to the routing table.
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
HTTP probes require a route to the virtual server. The route is not used, but it must exist in order for HTTP probes to function correctly. The route can be either a host route (advertised by the virtual server) or a default route (specified using the ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 command, for example). If you specify no advertise, you must specify a default route.
Examples
The following example prevents advertisement of the virtual server's IP address in routing protocol updates:
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTPRouter(config-slb-vserver)# no advertiseRelated Commands
agent
To configure a DFP agent on the DFP manager, use the agent DFP configuration command. To remove an agent definition from the DFP configuration, use the no form of this command.
agent ip-address port-number [timeout [retry_count [retry_interval]]]
no agent ip-address port
Syntax Description
Defaults
Timeout default: 0 seconds (no timeout)
Retry_count default: 0 (infinite retries)
Retry_interval default: 180 seconds
Command Modes
DFP configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
You can configure up to 1024 agents.
A DFP agent collects status information about a server's load capability and reports that information to a load manager. The DFP agent can reside on the server, or it can be a separate device that collects and consolidates the information from several servers before reporting to the load manager.
Examples
The following example configures a DFP agent on the DFP manager, sets the DFP password to Cookies and the timeout to 360 seconds, changes the CLI to DFP configuration mode, sets the IP address of the DFP agent to 10.1.1.1, and sets the port number of the DFP agent to 2221 (FTP):
Router(config)# ip slb dfp password Cookies 360Router(config-slb-dfp)# agent 10.1.1.1 2221Related Commands
Configures DFP and initiates DFP configuration mode, and optionally sets a password.
bindid
To configure a bind ID, use the bindid server farm configuration command. To remove a bind ID from the server farm configuration, use the no form of this command.
bindid [bind_id]
no bindid [bind_id]
Syntax Description
Defaults
Bind_id default: 0
Command Modes
Server farm configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
You can configure one bind ID on each bindid command.
The bind ID allows a single physical server to be bound to multiple virtual servers and report a different weight for each one. Thus, the single real server is represented as multiple instances of itself, each having a different bind ID. DFP uses the bind ID to identify for which instance of the real server a given weight is specified.
Examples
The following example configures bind ID 309:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLICRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# bindid 309Related Commands
Configures DFP and initiates DFP configuration mode, and optionally sets a password.
Displays information about the IOS SLB server farms.
clear ip slb
To clear IP IOS SLB connections or counters, use the clear ip slb command.
clear ip slb {connections [serverfarm farm_name | vserver server_name] | counters}
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Examples
The following example clears the connection database of server farm FARM1:
Router# clear ip slb connections serverfarm FARM1The following example clears the connection database of virtual server VSERVER1:
Router# clear ip slb connections vserver VSERVER1The following example clears the IOS SLB counters:
Router# clear ip slb countersRelated Commands
client
To define which clients are allowed to use the virtual server, use the client virtual server configuration command. You can use more than one client command to define more than one client. To remove a client definition from the IOS SLB configuration, use the no form of this command.
client ip-address network-mask
no client ip-address network-mask
Syntax Description
ip-address
Client IP address. The default is 0.0.0.0 (all clients).
network-mask
Client IP network mask. The default is 0.0.0.0 (all subnets).
Defaults
Ip_address default: 0.0.0.0 (all clients)
Network_mask default: 0.0.0.0 (all subnets)
Taken together, the default is client 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 (allows all clients on all subnets to use the virtual server).
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The network-mask value is applied to the source IP address of incoming connections. The result must match the ip-address value for the client to be allowed to use the virtual server.
Examples
The following example allows only clients from 10.4.4.x access to the virtual server:
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTPRouter(config-slb-vserver)# client 10.4.4.0 255.255.255.0Related Commands
Displays information about the virtual servers.
Configures the virtual server attributes.
credentials
To configure basic authentication values for the HTTP IOS SLB probe, use the credentials HTTP probe configuration command. To remove a credentials configuration, use the no form of this command.
credentials username [password]
no credentials username [password]
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
HTTP probe configuration
Command History
Examples
The following example configures an HTTP probe named PROBE2, changes the CLI to IOS SLB HTTP probe submode, sets the HTTP authentication to username lauren, and sets the password to develop:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE2 httpRouter(config-slb-probe)# credentials lauren developRelated Commands
delay (firewall farm TCP protocol)
To change the amount of time IOS SLB maintains TCP connection context after a connection has terminated, use the delay firewall farm TCP protocol configuration command. To restore the default delay timer, use the no form of this command.
delay duration
no delay
Syntax Description
duration
Delay timer duration in seconds. The valid range is 1 to 600 seconds. The default value is 10 seconds.
Defaults
Duration default: 10 seconds
Command Modes
Firewall farm TCP protocol configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The delay timer allows out-of-sequence packets and final acknowledgments (ACKs) to be delivered after a TCP connection ends.
Do not set this value to zero (0).
If you are configuring a delay timer for HTTP flows, choose a low number such as 5 seconds as a starting point.
Examples
The following example specifies that IOS SLB maintains TCP connection context for 30 seconds after a connection has terminated:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1Router(config-slb-fw)# tcpRouter(config-slb-fw-tcp)# delay 30Related Commands
Displays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Initiates TCP protocol configuration mode.
delay (virtual server)
To change the amount of time IOS SLB maintains TCP connection context after a connection has terminated, use the delay virtual server configuration command. To restore the default delay timer, use the no form of this command.
delay duration
no delay
Syntax Description
duration
Delay timer duration in seconds. The valid range is 1 to 600 seconds. The default value is 10 seconds.
Defaults
Duration default: 10 seconds
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The delay timer allows out-of-sequence packets and final acknowledgments (ACKs) to be delivered after a TCP connection ends.
Do not set this value to zero (0).
If you are configuring a delay timer for HTTP flows, choose a low number such as 5 seconds as a starting point.
Examples
The following example specifies that IOS SLB maintains TCP connection context for 30 seconds after a connection has terminated:
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTPRouter(config-slb-vserver)# delay 30Related Commands
Displays information about the virtual servers.
Configures the virtual server attributes.
expect
To configure a status code or regular expression to expect from the HTTP probe, use the expect HTTP probe configuration command. To restore the default settings, use the no form of this command.
expect [status status-code] [regex regular-expression]
no expect [status status-code] [regex regular-expression]
Syntax Description
Defaults
The default expected status code is 200.
There is no default expected regular expression.
Command Modes
HTTP probe configuration
Command History
12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.1(3a)E
The regex keyword and regular-expression variable were added.
Usage Guidelines
The expect command configures the expected status code or regular expression to be received from the servers. A real server is considered to have failed and is taken out of service if any of the following events occurs:
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For IOS SLB firewall load balancing, configure the HTTP probe to expect status code 40l.
Examples
The following example configures an HTTP probe named PROBE2 changes the CLI to HTTP submode, and configures the HTTP probe to expect the status code 40l and the regular expression Copyright:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE2 httpRouter(config-slb-probe)# expect status 401 regex CopyrightRelated Commands
Configures the IP IOS SLB probe name.
Displays an IOS SLB HTTP or ping probe configuration.
faildetect (ping probe)
To specify the conditions that indicate a server failure, use the faildetect ping probe configuration command. To restore the default values that indicate a server failure, use the no form of this command.
faildetect number-of-pings
no faildetect
Syntax Description
number-of-pings
Number of consecutive unanswered pings allowed before a real server is considered to have failed. Valid range is 1 to 255. The default is 10 unanswered pings.
Defaults
The default value is 10 unanswered pings.
Command Modes
Ping probe configuration
Command History
Examples
In the following example the unanswered ping threshold is set to 16:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE1 pingRouter(config-slb-probe)# faildetect 16Related Commands
faildetect (real server)
To specify the conditions that indicate a server failure, use the faildetect real server configuration command. To restore the default values that indicate a server failure, use the no form of this command.
faildetect numconns number-conns [numclients number-clients]
no faildetect
Syntax Description
Defaults
If you do not specify the faildetect command, the default value of the connection reassignment threshold is 8.
If you do not specify the numclients keyword, the default value of the unique client failure threshold is 2.
Command Modes
Real server configuration
Command History
Examples
In the following example the connection reassignment threshold is set to 16 and, because the number-clients keyword is not configured, the threshold for unique client connection failure is set to the default value 8. The real server is considered to have failed when 8 unique clients have had connection failures and there have been 16 connection reassignments.
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLICRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.10.1.1Router(config-slb-real)# faildetect numconns 16Related Commands
header
To configure the basic authentication values for the HTTP probe, use the header HTTP probe configuration command. To remove a header HTTP probe configuration, use the no form of this command.
header field-name [field-value]
no header field-name [field-value]
Syntax Description
field-name
Configures the name of the HTTP probe header. The character string is limited to 15 characters.
field-value
(Optional) Configures the value of the HTTP probe header.
Defaults
No default behavior or values, although the following headers are inserted in the request by default:
Accept: */*Connection: closeUser-Agent: cisco-slb-probe/1.0Host: virtual IP addressCommand Modes
HTTP probe configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The header HTTP probe configuration command configures the name and value parameters of the header.
Note
Examples
The following example configures an HTTP probe named PROBE2, changes the CLI to HTTP submode, and configures the HTTP probe header name as Cookie and value as Monster:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE2 httpRouter(config-slb-probe)# header Cookie MonsterRelated Commands
Configures the IP IOS SLB probe name.
Displays an IOS SLB HTTP or ping probe configuration.
idle (firewall farm TCP protocol)
To specify the minimum amount of time IOS SLB maintains connection information in the absence of packet activity, use the idle firewall farm TCP protocol configuration command. To restore the default idle duration value, use the no form of this command.
idle duration
no idle
Syntax Description
duration
Idle connection timer duration in seconds. Valid values range from 10 to 65535. The default is 3600 seconds (1 hour).
Defaults
Duration default: 3600 seconds
Command Modes
Firewall farm TCP protocol configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
TCP connections that do not send flows or keepalives before the idle timer expires are assumed to be inactive and are reset (RST).
If you are configuring an idle timer for HTTP flows, choose a low number such as 120 seconds as a starting point. A low number ensures that the IOS SLB connection database maintains a manageable size if problems at the server, client, or network result in a large number of connections. However, do not choose a value under 60 seconds; such a low value can reduce the efficiency of IOS SLB.
Examples
The following example instructs IOS SLB to maintain connection information for an idle connection for 120 seconds.
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1Router(config-slb-fw)# tcpRouter(config-slb-fw-tcp)# idle 120Related Commands
Displays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Initiates TCP protocol configuration mode.
idle (firewall farm UDP protocol)
To specify the minimum amount of time IOS SLB maintains connection information in the absence of packet activity, use the idle firewall farm UDP protocol configuration command. To restore the default idle duration value, use the no form of this command.
idle duration
no idle
Syntax Description
duration
Idle connection timer duration in seconds. Valid values range from 10 to 65535. The default is 3600 seconds (1 hour).
Defaults
Duration default: 3600 seconds
Command Modes
Firewall farm UDP protocol configuration
Command History
Examples
The following example instructs IOS SLB to maintain connection information for an idle connection for 120 seconds.
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1Router(config-slb-fw)# udpRouter(config-slb-fw-udp)# idle 120Related Commands
Displays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Initiates UDP protocol configuration mode.
idle (virtual server)
To specify the minimum amount of time IOS SLB maintains connection information in the absence of packet activity, use the idle virtual server configuration command. To restore the default idle duration value, use the no form of this command.
idle duration
no idle
Syntax Description
duration
Idle connection timer duration in seconds. Valid values range from 10 to 65535. The default is 3600 seconds (1 hour).
Defaults
Duration default: 3600 seconds
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
TCP connections that do not send flows or keepalives before the idle timer expires are assumed to be inactive and are reset (RST).
If you are configuring an idle timer for HTTP flows, choose a low number such as 120 seconds as a starting point. A low number ensures that the IOS SLB connection database maintains a manageable size if problems at the server, client, or network result in a large number of connections. However, do not choose a value under 60 seconds; such a low value can reduce the efficiency of IOS SLB.
Examples
The following example instructs IOS SLB to maintain connection information for an idle connection for 120 seconds.
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTPRouter(config-slb-vserver)# idle 120Related Commands
Displays information about the virtual servers.
Configures the virtual server attributes.
inservice (firewall farm)
To enable the firewall farm for use by IOS SLB, use the inservice firewall farm configuration command. To remove the firewall farm from service, use the no form of this command.
inservice [standby group-name]
no inservice [standby group-name]
Syntax Description
Defaults
If the inservice command is not specified, the firewall farm is defined to IOS SLB but is not used.
Command Modes
Firewall farm configuration
Command History
Examples
The following example enables the firewall farm for use by the IOS SLB feature:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1Router(config-slb-fw)# inservice
