Table Of Contents
Overview of the IOS SLB Feature
Algorithms for Server Load Balancing
Automatic Server Failure Detection
Avoiding Attacks on Server Farms and Firewall Farms
Client-Assigned Load Balancing
Delayed Removal of TCP Connection Context
Dynamic Feedback Protocol for IOS SLB
Multiple Firewall Farm Support
Network Address Translation (NAT) and Session Redirection
Probes in Server Load Balancing
Probes in Firewall Load Balancing
Transparent Webcache Load Balancing
Related Features and Technologies
Supported Standards, MIBs, and RFCs
Configuring Required and Optional IOS SLB Functions
Configuring a Server Farm and Real Server
Verifying IOS SLB Connectivity
Configuring Firewall Load Balancing
Verifying Firewall Connectivity
GPRS Load Balancing Configuration Task List
Configuring the Maximum DFP Weight for a GGSN
Configuring the Maximum Number of PDP Contexts for a GGSN
Identifying the GGSN Virtual Server to CEF
Stateless Backup Configuration Task List
Verifying the Stateless Backup Configuration
Clearing Connections and Counters
Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature
Basic IOS SLB Network Configuration Example
Restricted Client Configuration
Complete IOS SLB Configuration Example
Layer 3 Switch with ISL, VLAN, and BVI with GEC Example
IOS SLB with Firewall Load Balancing Example
Internal Firewall Load-Balancing Device
External Firewall Load-Balancing Device
IOS SLB with Server Load Balancing and Firewall Load Balancing Example
Internal Server and Firewall Load-Balancing Device
External Firewall Load-Balancing Device
IOS SLB with Multiple Firewall Farms Example
Internal Firewall Load-Balancing Device
External Firewall Load-Balancing Device
Layer 3 Switch Configured with IOS SLB Example
Switch A Configuration Statements
Switch B Configuration Statements
Switch C 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
IOS SLB with Stateful Backup Example
Switch SLB1 Configuration Statements
Switch SLB2 Configuration Statements
IOS SLB with Active Standby Example
SLB 1 Configuration Statements
SLB 2 Configuration Statements
Access Router Configuration Statements
IOS SLB with Redistribution of Static Routes Example
Routing Information Protocol (RIP)
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP)
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (Enhanced IGRP)
Examples of IOS SLB with WAP Load Balancing
Example with WAP Load Balancing
Example with UDP Load Balancing
Examples of IOS SLB with Route Health Injection
Example with Two Distributed Sites with One Web Server Each
Example with Two Distributed Sites with Two Web Servers Each
Example with Two Distributed Sites with One Web Server and a Backup IOS SLB Switch Each
IOS SLB with GPRS Load Balancing Example
IOS SLB Configuration Statements
GGSN1 Configuration Statements
GGSN2 Configuration Statements
GGSN3 Configuration Statements
IOS SLB with GPRS Load Balancing and NAT Example
IOS SLB Configuration Statements
GGSN1 Configuration Statements
GGSN2 Configuration Statements
GGSN3 Configuration Statements
IOS SLB with Sticky Connections Example
IOS SLB with Transparent Webcache Load Balancing
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)
sticky (firewall farm TCP protocol)
sticky (firewall farm UDP protocol)
weight (firewall farm real server)
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
IOS Server Load Balancing
Feature History
Release Modification12.0(7)XE
This feature was introduced with support for the following platforms:
•Multilayer Switch Feature Card 2 (MSFC2) and Supervisor Engine 1 for Cisco Catalyst 6500 family switches (including the Catalyst 6506, Catalyst 6509, and Catalyst 6513)
•Cisco 7200 Series Routers
The following functions were provided:
•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
12.1(1)E
The following functions were added:
•Network Address Translation (NAT) and Session Redirection—Server NAT
•Redundancy Enhancements—Stateless Backup
12.1(2)E
The following functions were added:
•Probes—HTTP Probes
•Network Address Translation (NAT) and Session Redirection—Server and Client NAT
•Redundancy Enhancements—Stateless and Stateful Backup
12.1(3a)E
The following functions were added:
•Probes—HTTP and Ping Probes
•Redundancy Enhancements—Stateless and Stateful Backup, and Active Standby
12.1(5a)E
The following functions were added:
•Avoiding Attacks on Server Farms and Firewall Farms
•Probes—HTTP, Ping, and WSP Probes
12.1(5)T
The Cisco IOS Release 12.1(1)E feature was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.1(5)T, supporting Cisco 7200 Series Routers only.
12.2
The Cisco IOS Release 12.1(5)T feature was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2.
12.1(7)E
Support for the following platform was added:
•Cisco 7100 Series Routers
The following functions were added:
•Multiple Firewall Farm Support
12.1(8a)E
Support for the following platform was added:
•MSFC2 and Supervisor Engine 2 for Cisco Catalyst 6500 family switches (including the Catalyst 6506, Catalyst 6509, and Catalyst 6513)
The following functions were added:
12.1(9)E
The following functions were added:
12.2 S
The Cisco IOS Release 12.1(8a)E feature and the GPRS Load Balancing function were integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
This document describes the Cisco IOS Server Load Balancing (SLB) feature in Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S. It includes the following sections:
•Overview of the IOS SLB Feature
•Related Features and Technologies
•Supported Standards, MIBs, and RFCs
•Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature
•FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
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.
Note IOS SLB does not support load balancing of flows between clients and real servers that are on the same local area network (LAN) or virtual LAN (VLAN). The packets being load balanced cannot enter and leave the load-balancing device on the same interface.
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.
Note Some IOS SLB functions are specific to one platform and are not described in this feature module. For information about those functions, refer to the appropriate platform-specific documentation.
•Algorithms for Server Load Balancing
•Automatic Server Failure Detection
•Avoiding Attacks on Server Farms and Firewall Farms
•Client-Assigned Load Balancing
•Delayed Removal of TCP Connection Context
•Dynamic Feedback Protocol for IOS SLB
•Multiple Firewall Farm Support
•Network Address Translation (NAT) and Session Redirection
•Transparent Webcache Load Balancing
Algorithms for Server Load Balancing
IOS SLB provides the following load-balancing algorithms:
You can specify one of these algorithms 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.
Note Assigning a weight of n=1 to all of the servers in the server farm configures the IOS SLB device to use a simple round robin algorithm.
GPRS load balancing requires the weighted round robin algorithm. A server farm that uses weighted least connections can be bound to a virtual server providing GPRS load balancing, but you cannot place the virtual server INSERVICE. If you try to do so, IOS SLB issues an error message.
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.
Note Assigning a weight of n=1 to all of the servers in the server farm configures the IOS SLB device to use a simple least-connection algorithm.
GPRS load balancing does not support the weighted least connections algorithm.
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:
•Use any of the interface addresses to telnet to the load-balancing device.
•Define a secondary IP address to telnet to the load-balancing device.
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.
Avoiding Attacks on Server Farms and Firewall Farms
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:
•Configure real servers on a private network to keep clients from connecting directly to them. This ensures that the clients must go through IOS SLB to get to the real servers.
•Configure input access lists on the access router or on the IOS SLB device to deny flows from the outside network aimed directly at the interfaces on the IOS SLB device. That is, deny all direct flows from unexpected addresses.
•To protect against attackers trying to direct flows to real or nonexistent IP addresses in the firewall subnet, configure the firewalls in a private network.
•Configure firewalls to deny all unexpected flows targeted at the firewalls, especially flows originating from the external network.
Backup Server Farms
A backup server farm is a server farm that can be used when none of the real servers defined in a primary server farm is available to accept new connections. When configuring backup server farms, keep in mind the following considerations:
•A server farm can act as both primary and backup at the same time.
•The same real server cannot be defined in both primary and backup at the same time.
•Both primary and backup require the same NAT configuration (none, client, server, or both). In addition, if NAT is specified, both server farms must use the same NAT pool.
Bind ID Support
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.
GPRS load balancing does not support bind IDs.
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 server farm or firewall farm, and assign another set of clients (such as external clients) to a different server farm or firewall farm.
GPRS load balancing does not support client-assigned load balancing.
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.
DFP Agent Subsystem Support
IOS SLB supports the DFP Agent Subsystem feature, which enables client subsystems other than IOS SLB to act as DFP agents. With the DFP Agent Subsystem, you can use multiple DFP agents from different client subsystems at the same time.
For more information about the DFP Agent Subsystem, see the DFP Agent Subsystem feature module.
Dynamic Feedback Protocol for IOS SLB
With IOS SLB Dynamic Feedback Protocol (DFP) support, a DFP manager in a load-balancing environment can initiate a TCP connection with a DFP agent. Thereafter, the DFP agent collects status information from one or more real host servers, converts the information to relative weights, and reports the weights to the DFP manager. The DFP manager factors in the weights when load balancing the real servers. In addition to reporting at user-defined intervals, the DFP agent sends an early report if there is a sudden change in a real server's status.
The weights calculated by DFP override the static weights you define using the weight (server farm) command. If DFP is removed from the network, IOS SLB reverts to the static weights.
You can define IOS SLB as a DFP manager, as a DFP agent for another DFP manager (such as DistributedDirector), or as both at the same time. In such a configuration, IOS SLB sends periodic reports to DistributedDirector, which uses the information to choose the best server farm for each new connection request. IOS SLB then uses the same information to choose the best real server within the chosen server farm.
DFP also supports the use of multiple DFP agents from different client subsystems (such as IOS SLB and GPRS) at the same time.
In GPRS load balancing, you can define IOS SLB as a DFP manager and define a DFP agent on each GGSN in the server farm, and the DFP agent can report the weights of the GGSNs. The DFP agents calculate the weight of each GGSN based on CPU utilization, processor memory, and the maximum number of PDP contexts (mobile sessions) that can be activated for each GGSN. As a first approximation, DFP calculates the weight as the number of existing PDP contexts divided by the maximum allowed PDP contexts:
(existing PDP contexts)/(maximum PDP contexts)
Maximum PDP contexts are specified using the gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed command, which defaults to 1000 PDP contexts. If you accept the default value, DFP might calculate a very low weight for the GGSN:
(existing PDP contexts)/1000 = Low GGSN weight
Keep this calculation in mind when specifying maximum PDP contexts using the gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed command.
Firewall Load Balancing
As its name implies, firewall load balancing enables IOS SLB to balance flows to firewalls. 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.
You can configure more than one firewall farm in each load-balancing device.
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.
To balance flows across the firewalls in a firewall farm, IOS SLB firewall load balancing performs a route lookup on each incoming flow, examining the source and destination IP addresses (and optionally the source and destination TCP or User Datagram Protocol [UDP] port numbers). Firewall load balancing applies a hash algorithm to the results of the route lookup and selects the best firewall to handle the connection request.
Note IOS SLB firewall load balancing must examine incoming packets and perform route lookup. On Catalyst 6500 Family Switches, some additional packets might need to be examined. Firewall load balancing impacts internal (secure) side routing performance and must be considered in the complete design.
To maximize availability and resilience in a network with multiple firewalls, configure a separate equal-weight route to each firewall, rather than a single route to only one of the firewalls.
IOS SLB firewall load balancing provides the following capabilities:
•Connections initiated from either side of the firewall farm are load-balanced.
•The load is balanced among a set of firewalls—the firewall farm.
•All packets for a connection travel through the same firewall. Subsequent connections can be "sticky," ensuring that they are assigned to the same firewall.
•Probes are used to detect and recover from firewall failures.
•Redundancy is provided. Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), stateless backup, and stateful backup are all supported.
•Multiple interface types and routing protocols are supported, enabling the external (Internet side) load-balancing device to act as an access router.
•Proxy firewalls are supported.
GPRS Load Balancing
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is the packet network infrastructure based on the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) phase 2+ standards for transferring packet data from the GSM mobile user to the packet data network (PDN). The Cisco gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) interfaces with the serving GPRS support node (SGSN) using the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP), which in turn uses UDP/IP for transport. IOS SLB provides GPRS load balancing and increased reliability and availability for the GGSN.
Tunnel creation messages destined to the virtual GGSN IP address are redirected via Layer 2 to one of the real GGSNs using the weighted round robin load-balancing algorithm. See the "Weighted Round Robin" section for more information about this algorithm.
The real GGSNs must be Layer 2-adjacent to the IOS SLB device. The SGSNs need not be Layer 2-adjacent to the IOS SLB device, unless you implement IOS SLB redundancy enhancements.
GPRS load balancing uses standard dispatched routing, so you must configure the real GGSNs with the virtual GGSN IP address as a loopback address, or secondary IP address. See the "Network Address Translation (NAT) and Session Redirection" section for more information about dispatched routing. See the "Configuring Logical Interfaces" chapter of the Cisco IOS Interface Configuration Guide for more information about configuring the loopback address.
When configuring the network shared by IOS SLB and the GGSNs, keep the following considerations in mind:
•Specify static routes (using ip route commands) and real server IP addresses (using real commands) such that the Layer 2 information is correct and unambiguous.
•Do not configure default routes or gateways on any of the GGSNs.
•Do not configure a route to IOS SLB's virtual server on the GGSNs. Doing so can prevent messages from reaching GTP.
•Choose subnets carefully, using one of the following methods:
–Do not overlap virtual template address subnets.
–Specify next hop addresses to real servers, not to interfaces on those servers.
In GPRS load balancing, IOS SLB knows when a PDP context is established, but it does not know when PDP contexts are cleared, and therefore it cannot know the number of open PDP contexts for each GGSN. Use DFP to calculate GPRS load-balancing weights dynamically. See the "Dynamic Feedback Protocol for IOS SLB" section for more information about DFP.
If you have enabled Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) on a GGSN, you must identify the IP address of the GGSN virtual server to CEF. If you have not enabled CEF on the GGSN, do not perform this task. See the "Identifying the GGSN Virtual Server to CEF" section for more details.
Maximum Connections
IOS SLB allows you to configure maximum connections for server and firewall load balancing.
•For server load balancing, you can configure a limit on the number of active connections that a real server is assigned. If the maximum number of connections is reached for a real server, IOS SLB automatically switches all further connection requests to another server until the connection number drops below the specified limit.
•For firewall load balancing, you can configure a limit on the number of active TCP or UDP connections that a firewall farm is assigned. If the maximum number of connections is reached for the firewall farm, new connections are dropped until the connection number drops below the specified limit.
Multiple Firewall Farm Support
You can configure more than one firewall farm in each load-balancing device.
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:
•Dispatched mode—the virtual server address is known to the real servers; you must configure the virtual server IP address as a loopback address, or secondary IP address, on each of the real servers. IOS SLB redirects packets to the real servers at the media access control (MAC) layer. Since the virtual server IP address is not modified in dispatched mode, the real servers must be Layer 2-adjacent to IOS SLB, or intervening routers might not be able to route to the chosen real server.
See the "Configuring Logical Interfaces" chapter of the Cisco IOS Interface Configuration Guide for more information about configuring the loopback address.
•Directed mode—the virtual server can be assigned an IP address that is not known to any of the real servers. IOS SLB translates packets exchanged between a client and real server, translating the virtual server IP address to a real server IP address through NAT.
IOS SLB supports the following types of NAT:
•Server NAT—By replacing the virtual server IP address with the real server IP address (and vice versa):
–Servers can be many hops away from the load-balancing device.
–Intervening routers can route to them without requiring tunnelling.
–Loopback and secondary interfaces are not required on the real server.
–The real server need not be Layer 2-adjacent to IOS SLB.
A less common form of server NAT is server port translation, which involves replacement of a virtual server port. Server port translation does not require server IP address translation, but the two translations can be used together.
Note If an IP address is configured as a real IP address for a NAT virtual server, you cannot balance connection requests from that address to a different virtual server (whether NAT or dispatched) on the same load-balancing device.
•Client NAT—If multiple load-balancing devices are used, replacing the client IP address with an IP address associated with one of the devices results in proper routing of outbound flows to the correct device. Client NAT also requires that the ephemeral client port be modified since many clients can use the same ephemeral port. Even in cases where multiple load-balancing devices are not used, client NAT can be useful to ensure that packets from load-balanced connections are not routed around the device.
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.
Note Both server NAT and client NAT are supported for the same connection.
IOS SLB supports FTP, firewall load balancing, and GPRS load balancing only in dispatched mode. Therefore, FTP, firewall load balancing, and GPRS load balancing cannot use NAT.
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.
IOS SLB firewall load balancing and GPRS load balancing do not support port-bound servers.
Probes
IOS SLB supports HTTP probes, ping probes, and WSP probes.
HTTP and ping 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.
HTTP probes do not support HTTP over Secure Socket Layer (HTTPS). That is, you cannot send an HTTP probe to an SSL server.
WSP probes detect failures in the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) stack on port 9201.
You can configure more than one probe, in any combination of types (HTTP, ping, or WSP), for each server farm, or for each firewall in a firewall farm.
Probes in 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.
Probes in 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.
Make sure you configure the HTTP probe to expect status code 401, to eliminate password problems. See the description of the expect command in the "Command Reference" section for more details.
Use the ip http server command to configure an HTTP server on the device. See the description of the ip http server command in the Cisco IOS Configuration Fundamentals Command Reference for more details.
In a transparent webcache load-balancing environment, an HTTP probe uses the real IP address of the webcache, since there is no virtual IP address configured.
Protocol Support
IOS SLB supports the following protocols:
•Domain Name System (DNS)
•File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
•GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP)
•Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
•Hypertext Transfer Protocol over Secure Socket Layer (HTTPS)
•Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)
•Mapping of Airline Traffic over IP, Type A (MATIP-A)
•Network News Transport Protocol (NNTP)
•Post Office Protocol, version 2 (POP2)
•Post Office Protocol, version 3 (POP3)
•RealAudio/RealVideo via HTTP
•Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)
•Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP)
•Telnet
•X.25 over TCP (XOT)
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:
•The IOS SLB device fails.
•A link from a switch to the distribution-layer switch becomes disconnected.
To reduce that risk, IOS SLB supports the following redundancy options, based on HSRP:
Stateless Backup
Stateless backup provides high network availability by routing IP flows from hosts on Ethernet networks without relying on the availability of a 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.
If you use stateless backup in GPRS load balancing, the SGSNs must be Layer 2-adjacent to the IOS SLB device.
Stateful Backup
Stateful backup enables IOS SLB to incrementally backup its load-balancing decisions, or "keep state," between primary and backup switches. The backup switch keeps 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.
Stateful backup 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.
GPRS load balancing does not support stateful backup.
Active Standby
Active standby enables two IOS SLBs to 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.
IOS SLB firewall load balancing does not support active standby. That is, you cannot configure two pairs of firewall load balancing devices (one pair on each side of the firewalls), with each device in each pair handling traffic and backing up its partner.
Route Health Injection
By default, a virtual server's IP address is advertised (added to the routing table) when you bring the virtual server into service (using the inservice command). If you have a preferred host route to a website's virtual IP address, you can advertise that host route, but you have no guarantee that the IP address is available. However, you can use the advertise command to configure IOS SLB to advertise the host route only when IOS SLB has verified that the IP address is available. IOS SLB withdraws the advertisement when the IP address is no longer available. This function is known as route health injection.
Note When route health injection is configured, probes require a default route to the virtual server (specified using the ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 command, for example). The route is not used, but it must exist to enable the sockets code to verify that the destination can be reached, which in turn is essential for route health injection to function correctly.
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.
GPRS load balancing does not support slow start.
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 user-defined period. New connections from a client are sticky if the following conditions are met:
•The real server is in either OPERATIONAL or MAXCONNS_THROTTLED state.
•The sticky timer is defined on a virtual server or on a firewall farm.
•The amount of time between the end of a previous connection from the client and the start of the new connection is within the sticky timer duration.
OR
A connection for the same client already exists. (That is, the connection is not the first for this client.)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 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.
GPRS load balancing does not support sticky connections.
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 handled by a virtual server at specific intervals and does not allow the number to exceed a configured SYN threshold. If the threshold is reached, any new SYNs are dropped.
IOS SLB firewall load balancing and GPRS load balancing do not support SynGuard.
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 and GPRS load balancing do not support TCP session reassignment.
Transparent Webcache Load Balancing
IOS SLB can load balance port 80 flows across a cluster of transparent webcaches. To set up this function, configure the subnet IP addresses served by the transparent webcaches, or some common subset of them, as virtual servers. Virtual servers used for transparent webcache load balancing do not answer pings on behalf of the subnet IP addresses, and they do not affect traceroute.
In some cases, such as when its cache does not contain needed pages, a webcache might need to initiate its own connections to the Internet. Those connections should not be load balanced back to the same set of webcaches. To address this need, IOS SLB allows you to configure client exclude statements, which exclude connections initiated by the webcaches from the load-balancing scheme.
IOS SLB firewall load balancing and GPRS load balancing do not support transparent webcache load balancing.
WAP Load Balancing
You can use IOS SLB to load balance Wireless Session Protocol (WSP) sessions among a group of WAP gateways or servers on an IP bearer network. WAP runs on top of UDP on a set of well known ports, with each port indicating a different WAP mode:
•Connectionless WSP mode (IP/UDP [9200]/WSP). In connectionless WSP mode, WSP is a simple one-request/one-response protocol in which a single server-bound packet results in a server response of one or more packets.
•Connection-oriented WSP mode (IP/UDP [9201]/WTP/WSP). In connection-oriented WSP mode, WTP handles retransmissions of WDP events, and WSP operates using a defined session bring-up/tear-down sequence. IOS SLB uses a WAP-aware finite state machine (FSM), driven by events in WSP sessions, to reassign sessions. This FSM operates only on port 9201, where the WSP sessions are not encrypted and WTP handles retransmissions.
•Connectionless secure WSP mode (IP/UDP [9202]/WTLS/WSP). This mode functions the same as connectionless WSP mode, but with security provided by WTLS.
•Connection-oriented secure WSP mode (IP/UDP [9203]/WTLS/WTP/WSP). This mode functions the same as connection-oriented WSP mode, but with security provided by WTLS.
IOS SLB uses ping probes to detect failures in the WAP load-balancing device, and WSP probes to detect failures in the WAP stack on port 9201.
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-, medium-, and small-scale sites.
IOS SLB facilitates scalability, availability, and ease of maintenance:
•The addition of new physical (real) servers, and the removal or failure of existing servers, can occur at any time, transparently, without affecting the availability of the virtual server.
•IOS SLB's slow start capability allows a new server to increase its load gradually, preventing failures caused by assigning the server too many new connections too quickly.
•IOS SLB supports fragmented packets and packets with IP options, buffering your servers from client or network vagaries that are beyond your control.
•IOS SLB firewall load balancing enables you to scale access to your Internet site. You can add firewalls without affecting existing connections, enabling your site to grow without impacting customers.
Using DFP enables IOS SLB to provide weights to another load-balancing system, such as DistributedDirector. IOS SLB can act as a DFP manager, receiving weights from host servers, and it can act as a DFP agent, sending weights to a DFP manager. The functions are enabled independently—you can implement either one, or both, at the same time.
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:
•Does not support load balancing of flows between clients and real servers that are on the same local area network (LAN) or virtual LAN (VLAN). The packets being load balanced cannot enter and leave the load-balancing device on the same interface.
•Operates in a standalone mode and currently does not operate as a MultiNode Load Balancing (MNLB) Services Manager. The presence of IOS SLB does not preclude the use of the existing MNLB Forwarding Agent with an external Services Manager (such as the LocalDirector) in an MNLB environment.
•Does not support coordinating server load-balancing statistics among different IOS SLB instances for backup capability.
•Supports FTP, firewall load balancing, and GPRS load balancing only in dispatched mode.
•Does not support IOS SLB and Cisco Applications and Services Architecture (CASA) configured with the same virtual IP address, even if they are for different services.
•Does not support both IOS server load balancing and firewall load balancing on the same flow, nor on the same server port. You can configure both server load balancing and firewall load balancing on the same device at the same time, but they must apply to different flows (different client-server pairs). These functions can run on the same EPIF (for example, server load balancing on port 1 and firewall load balancing on port 2). Load-balancing the server farm after a packet exits the load-balanced firewall farm requires a separate load-balancing device.
•Does not support running both IOS SLB and the Content Switching Module (CSM) on the same switch.
•When operating in dispatched mode, real servers must be Layer 2-adjacent, tag-switched, or via generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel.
•When operating in directed mode with server NAT, real servers need not be Layer 2-adjacent to IOS SLB. This allows for more flexible network design, since servers can be placed several Layer 3 hops away from the IOS SLB switch.
•The DFP agent requires a delay between hello messages of at least 3 seconds. Therefore, if your DFP manager provides a timeout specification, you must set the timeout to at least 3 seconds.
•For backup server farm support:
–Does not support defining the same real server in both primary and backup server farms.
–Requires the same NAT configuration (none, client, server, or both) for both primary and backup server farms. In addition, if NAT is specified, both server farms must use the same NAT pool.
–Does not support HTTP redirect load balancing. If a primary server farm specifies a redirect virtual server, you cannot define that primary as a backup, nor can you define a backup for that primary.
•For firewall load balancing:
–No longer limited to a single firewall farm in each load-balancing device.
–Limited to a single active firewall load-balancing device on each side of the firewall farm. Each firewall must have its own unique MAC address and must be Layer 2-adjacent to each device. The firewalls can be connected to individual interfaces on the device, or they can all share a VLAN and connect using a single interface.
–Requires Ethernet between each firewall load-balancing device and each firewall.
–On each firewall load-balancing device, requires that each Layer 2 firewall be connected to a single Layer 3 (IP) interface.
–Flows with a destination IP address on the same subnet as the configured firewall IP addresses are not load-balanced. (Such flows could be a firewall console session or other flows on the firewall LAN.)
–Does not support the following IOS SLB functions:
- Active standby
- Network Address Translation (NAT)
- Port-bound servers
- SynGuard
- TCP session reassignment
- Transparent webcache load balancing
•For GPRS load balancing:
–Operates in dispatched mode only.
–Cannot load balance network-initiated PDP context requests.
–Does not support the following IOS SLB functions:
- Bind IDs
- Client-assigned load balancing
- Network Address Translation (NAT)
- Port-bound servers
- Slow Start
- Stateful backup
- Sticky connections
- SynGuard
- TCP session reassignment
- Transparent webcache load balancing
- Weighted least connections load-balancing algorithm. GPRS load balancing requires the weighted round robin algorithm. A server farm that uses weighted least connections can be bound to a virtual server providing GPRS load balancing, but you cannot place the virtual server INSERVICE. If you try to do so, IOS SLB issues an error message.
•For HTTP probes:
–HTTP probes do not support HTTP over Secure Socket Layer (HTTPS). That is, you cannot send an HTTP probe to an SSL server.
•For Catalyst 6500 Family Switches:
–Requires the Multilayer Switched Feature Card (MSFC) and the Policy Feature Card (PFC). When using redundant MSFCs in the same Catalyst 6500 Family switch, stateful backup between the two MSFCs is not supported, but stateless backup between the two MSFCs is supported.
The term "MSFC" refers to either an MSFC1 or an MSFC2, except when specifically differentiated.
The term "PFC" refers to either a PFC1 or a PFC2, except when specifically differentiated.
–Requires that the Multilayer Switching (MLS) flow mode be set to full. For more information about how to set the MLS flow, refer to the Catalyst 6000 Family IOS Software Configuration Guide.
–When operating in dispatched mode, real servers must be Layer 2-adjacent to IOS SLB (that is, not beyond an additional router), with hardware data packet acceleration performed by the PFC. All real servers that can be reached by a single IOS SLB device (that is, all real servers in a given server farm) be on the same VLAN. The loopback address must be configured in the real servers.
–Requires that all firewall interfaces be on the same VLAN.
–Provides no hardware data packet acceleration in directed mode. (Hardware data packet acceleration is performed by the PFC, and in directed mode the data packets are handled by the MSFC, not the PFC.)
–Supports Native IOS only.
–Does not support GPRS load balancing in 12.2 S.
•For the Cisco 7100 Series and Cisco 7200 Series:
–Provides no hardware acceleration for the IOS SLB function for either dispatched mode or directed mode.
–Supports Cisco IOS NAT in directed mode with no hardware data packet acceleration.
–Does not support route health injection in 12.2 S.
Related Features and Technologies
•Content Flow Monitor (CFM)
•Dynamic Feedback Protocol (DFP)
•General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
•Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP)
•Network Address Translation (NAT)
•Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
Related Documents
•Catalyst 4840G Software Feature and Configuration Guide
•Cisco IOS IP Configuration Guide
•Cisco IOS IP Command Reference, Volume 1 of 3: Addressing and Services, Release 12.2
•Cisco IOS Mobile Wireless Configuration Guide
•Cisco IOS Mobile Wireless Command Reference
•Dynamic Feedback Protocol Support in Distributed Director
•Using Content Flow Monitor
Supported Platforms
•Cisco 7100 Series Routers
•Cisco 7200 Series Routers
•MSFC2, Supervisor Engine 1, and Supervisor Engine 2 for Cisco Catalyst 6500 family switches (including the Catalyst 6506, Catalyst 6509, and Catalyst 6513)
Supported Standards, MIBs, and RFCs
Standards
•No new or modified standards
MIBs
•CISCO-SLB-MIB
Note Although the objects in this MIB are defined as read-create, you cannot use the SNMP SET command to modify them. Instead, you must use the command line to set the associated command line keywords, after which the new values are reflected in SNMP.
To obtain lists of supported MIBs by platform and Cisco IOS release, and to download MIB modules, go to the Cisco MIB website on Cisco.com at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/public/sw-center/netmgmt/cmtk/mibs.shtml
RFCs
•Cisco IOS NAT, RFC 1631
Configuration Tasks
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.
For configuration examples associated with these tasks, see the "Configuration Examples" section.
For a complete description of the IOS SLB commands in this section, see the "Command Reference" section. To locate documentation of other commands that appear in this section, search online using Cisco.com.
To configure IOS SLB, perform the tasks in the following sections:
•Configuring Required and Optional IOS SLB Functions (Required)
•Configuring Firewall Load Balancing (Optional)
•Configuring Probes (Optional)
•Configuring DFP (Optional)
•GPRS Load Balancing Configuration Task List (Optional)
•Configuring NAT (Optional)
•Stateless Backup Configuration Task List (Optional)
•Configuring Database Entries (Optional)
•Configuring Wildcard Searches (Optional)
•Clearing Connections and Counters (Optional)
•Purging Connections (Optional)
•Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature
Configuring Required and Optional IOS SLB Functions
To configure IOS SLB functions, perform the tasks in the following sections. Required and optional tasks are indicated.
•Configuring a Server Farm and Real Server (Required)
•Configuring a Virtual Server (Required)
•Verifying the Server Farm (Optional)
•Verifying the Virtual Server (Optional)
•Verifying the Clients (Optional)
•Verifying IOS SLB Connectivity (Optional)
Configuring a Server Farm and Real Server
To configure an IOS SLB server farm, use the following commands beginning in global configuration mode:
Note When performing server load balancing and firewall load balancing together on a Catalyst 6500 Family Switch, use the mls ip slb wildcard search rp command to reduce the probability of exceeding the capacity of the TCAM on the PFC. See the"Configuring Wildcard Searches" section for more details.
Configuring a Virtual Server
IOS SLB supports up to 128 virtual servers.
To configure an IOS SLB virtual server, use the following commands beginning in global configuration mode:
Verifying the Virtual Server
The following show ip slb vserver command verifies the configuration of the virtual servers PUBLIC_HTTP and RESTRICTED_HTTP:
Router# show ip slb vserver
slb vserver prot virtual state conns-------------------------------------------------------------------PUBLIC_HTTP TCP 10.0.0.1:80 OPERATIONAL 0RESTRICTED_HTTP TCP 10.0.0.2:80 OPERATIONAL 0Router#Verifying the Server Farm
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 real
real 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 serverfarm
server farm predictor nat reals bind id---------------------------------------------------PUBLIC ROUNDROBIN none 3 0RESTRICTED ROUNDROBIN none 2 0Router#Verifying the Clients
The following show ip slb conns command verifies the restricted client access and status:
Router# show ip slb conns
vserver 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 detail
VSTEST_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 stats
Pkts via normal switching: 0Pkts via special switching: 6Connections Created: 1Connections Established: 1Connections Destroyed: 0Connections Reassigned: 0Zombie Count: 0Connections Reused: 0Normal switching is when IOS SLB packets are handled on normal IOS switching paths (CEF, fast switching, and process level switching). 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.
Configuring 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. You can configure more than one probe, in any combination of types (HTTP or ping), for each firewall in a firewall farm.
When performing server load balancing and firewall load balancing together on a Catalyst 6500 Family Switch, use the mls ip slb wildcard search rp command to reduce the probability of exceeding the capacity of the TCAM on the PFC. See the"Configuring Wildcard Searches" section for more details.
This section describes the following IOS SLB firewall load-balancing configuration tasks. Required and optional tasks are indicated.
•Configuring the Firewall Farm (Required)
•Verifying the Firewall Farm (Optional)
•Verifying Firewall Connectivity (Optional)
Configuring the Firewall Farm
To configure an IOS SLB firewall load-balancing network, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
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 real
real 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 firewallfarm
firewall 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 Ping the external real servers (the ones outside the firewall) from the IOS SLB firewall load-balancing switch.
Step 2 Ping the internal real servers (the ones inside the firewall) from the clients.
Step 3 Use the show ip slb stats command to display detailed information about the IOS SLB firewall load-balancing network status:
Router# show ip slb stats
Pkts 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: 0Normal switching is when IOS SLB packets are handled on normal IOS switching paths (CEF, fast switching, and process level switching). Special switching is when IOS SLB packets are handled on hardware-assisted switching paths.
Step 4 Use the show ip slb real detail command to display detailed information about the IOS SLB firewall load-balancing real server status:
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.7020Step 5 Use the show ip slb conns command to display detailed information about the active IOS SLB firewall load-balancing connections:
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 noneStep 6 See the "Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature" section for additional commands used to verify IOS SLB networks and connections.
Configuring Probes
IOS SLB uses probes to verify connectivity and detect failures. For a detailed description of each type of probe, see the "Probes" section.
The following sections describe how to configure and verify probes. Required and optional tasks are indicated.
•Configuring HTTP Probes (Required)
•Configuring Ping Probes (Required)
•Configuring WSP Probes (Required)
•Associating the Probe (Required)
•Verifying the Probe (Optional)
Configuring HTTP Probes
To configure an HTTP probe, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
In addition, HTTP probes require a route to the virtual server. The route is not used, but it must exist to enable the sockets code to verify that the destination can be reached, which in turn is essential 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).
Configuring Ping Probes
To configure a ping probe, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Configuring WSP Probes
To configure a WSP probe, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Associating the Probe
After configuring a probe, you must associate it with a real server or firewall, using the probe command. See the "Configuring a Server Farm and Real Server" section and the "Configuring Firewall Load Balancing" section for more details.
Note You cannot associate a WSP probe with a firewall.
Verifying the Probe
To verify that a probe is configured correctly, use the show ip slb probe command:
Router# show ip slb probe
Server: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 00:00:00Router#Configuring DFP
You can define IOS SLB as a DFP manager, as a DFP agent for another DFP manager (such as DistributedDirector), or as both at the same time. Depending on your network configuration, you might enter the commands for configuring IOS SLB as a DFP manager and the commands for configuring IOS SLB as a DFP agent on the same device or on different devices.
To configure IOS SLB as a DFP manager, and to identify a DFP agent with which IOS SLB can initiate connections, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
To configure IOS SLB as a DFP agent, see the DFP Agent Subsystem feature module.
GPRS Load Balancing Configuration Task List
This section lists the tasks used to configure GPRS load balancing. Detailed configuration information is contained in the referenced sections of this or other documents. Required and optional tasks are indicated.
•Configuring a Server Farm and Real Server (Required)
When you configure the server farm and real server for GPRS load balancing, keep the following considerations in mind:
–Accept the default setting (the weighted round robin algorithm) for the predictor command.
–Specify the IP addresses (virtual template addresses) of the real servers performing the GGSN function, using the real command.
–Accept the default value (4294967295) for the maxconns command.
–Specify a reassign threshold less than the value specified on the gprs gtp n3-requests command (or the equivalent command, if you are not using a Cisco SGSN), using the reassign command.
•Configuring a Virtual Server (Required)
When you configure the virtual server for GPRS load balancing, keep the following considerations in mind:
–Specify a virtual GGSN IP address as the virtual server, and use the udp and service gtp keyword options, using the virtual command. Port number 3386 is recommended, if the GGSNs and SGSNs are in compliance with the ETSI standard.
–Specify an idle timer greater than the longest possible longest possible interval between PDP context requests on the SGSN, using the idle command.
•Configuring the virtual IP address as a loopback on each of the GGSNs in the server (Required)
See the "Configuring a Loopback Interface" section in the Cisco IOS Interface Configuration Guide for more information.
•Configuring DFP (Optional)
–Configuring the Maximum DFP Weight for a GGSN (Optional)
–Configuring the Maximum Number of PDP Contexts for a GGSN (Optional)
•Identifying the GGSN Virtual Server to CEF (Optional)
•Routing each GGSN to each associated SGSN (Required)
The route can be static or dynamic, but the GGSN needs to be able to reach the SGSN. See the "Configuring Network Access to the GGSN" section of the Cisco IOS Mobile Wireless Configuration Guide for more details.
•Routing each SGSN to the virtual templates on each associated GGSN, and to the GPRS load-balancing virtual server (Required)
See the configuration guide for your SGSN for more details.
Configuring the Maximum DFP Weight for a GGSN
If you use DFP with GPRS load balancing, each GGSN that acts as a DFP agent has a maximum weight that it can send to a DFP manager. For each GGSN, you can accept the default maximum weight, or you can specify a different maximum weight.
To specify the maximum weight for a GGSN, enter the following command in global configuration mode:
Command PurposeRouter(config)# gprs dfp max-weight [max-weight-value]
Specifies the maximum weight of a GGSN that is acting as a DFP agent.
Configuring the Maximum Number of PDP Contexts for a GGSN
If you use DFP with GPRS load balancing, you must specify a maximum number of PDP contexts for each GGSN, using the gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed command. Do not accept the default value of 1000 PDP contexts. A value of 45000 is recommended. Significantly lower values, including the default value of 1000, can impact performance in a GPRS load-balancing environment.
To configure a maximum number of PDP contexts for a GGSN, enter the following command in global configuration mode:
Command PurposeRouter(config)# gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed [pdp_contexts]
Specifies the maximum number of PDP contexts (mobile sessions) that can be activated on the GGSN.
See the "Customizing the GPRS Configuration" section in the Cisco IOS Mobile Wireless Configuration Guide for more information.
Identifying the GGSN Virtual Server to CEF
If you have enabled CEF on a GGSN, you must identify the IP address of the GGSN virtual server to CEF. (This IP address is also a loopback address on the GGSN.) If you have not enabled CEF on the GGSN, do not perform this task.
To identify the IP address of the GGSN virtual server to CEF, enter the following command in global configuration mode:
Configuring NAT
To configure the IOS SLB NAT client address pool, enter the following command in global configuration mode:
You must also specify either NAT client translation mode or NAT server address translation mode on the server farm, using the nat command. See the "Configuring a Server Farm and Real Server" section for more details.
Stateless Backup Configuration Task List
This section lists the tasks used to configure stateless backup over VLANs between IOS SLB devices. Detailed configuration information is contained in the referenced sections of this or other documents. Required and optional tasks are indicated.
•Configuring Required and Optional IOS SLB Functions (Required for server load balancing)
•Configuring Firewall Load Balancing (Required for firewall load balancing)
•Configuring the IP Routing Protocol (Required)
See the "IP Routing Protocols" chapter of the Cisco IOS IP and IP Routing Configuration Guide for more details.
•Configuring the VLAN between the IOS SLB devices (Required)
See the "Virtual LANs" chapter of the Cisco IOS Switching Services Configuration Guide for more details.
•Enabling HSRP on IOS SLB (Required)
See the "Configuring SLB Redundancy" chapter of the Catalyst 4840G Software Feature and Configuration Guide for more details.
•Verifying the Stateless Backup Configuration (Optional)
Note For active standby, in which multiple IOS SLB devices share a virtual IP address, you must use exclusive client ranges and you must use policy routing to forward flows to the correct IOS SLB device.
Verifying the 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 vserver commands to display information about the IOS SLB virtual server status:
Router# show ip slb vserver
slb 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 vserver detail
VS1, 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 = INSERVICE, 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 firewallfarm
firewall 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 = 597445Configuring Database Entries
To configure an initial allocation and a maximum value for IOS SLB database entries, enter the following command in global configuration mode:
Configuring Wildcard Searches
To specify the behavior of IOS SLB wildcard searches, enter the following command in global configuration mode:
Clearing Connections and Counters
To clear IP IOS SLB connections or counters, enter the following command in privileged EXEC mode:
Purging Connections
IOS SLB enables you to reset, or purge, client TCP connections to failed serverfarms and firewalls without waiting for the TCP retransmission timeout.
To purge connections when a real server fails, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
To purge connections when a firewall fails, enter the following commands in order, beginning in global configuration mode:
Monitoring and Maintaining the IOS SLB Feature
To obtain and display runtime information about IOS SLB, use the following commands in EXEC mode:
Configuration Examples
This section provides real-world examples of IOS SLB configurations. For a complete description of the IOS SLB commands in this section, see the "Command Reference" section. To locate documentation of other commands that appear in this section, search online using Cisco.com.
This section includes the following examples:
•Basic IOS SLB Network Configuration Example
•Complete IOS SLB Configuration Example
•Layer 3 Switch with ISL, VLAN, and BVI with GEC Example
•IOS SLB with Firewall Load Balancing Example
•IOS SLB with Server Load Balancing and Firewall Load Balancing Example
•IOS SLB with Multiple Firewall Farms Example
•Layer 3 Switch Configured with IOS SLB Example
•Examples of IOS SLB with Stateless Backup
•IOS SLB with Stateful Backup Example
•IOS SLB with Active Standby Example
•IOS SLB with Redistribution of Static Routes Example
•Examples of IOS SLB with WAP Load Balancing
•Examples of IOS SLB with Route Health Injection
•IOS SLB with GPRS Load Balancing Example
•IOS SLB with GPRS Load Balancing and NAT Example
•IOS SLB with Sticky Connections Example
•IOS SLB with Transparent Webcache Load Balancing
Note The IP and network addresses in these examples are generic; you must replace them with the actual addresses for your network.
Basic IOS SLB Network Configuration Example
Figure 2 shows a sample IOS SLB network with the following components:
•Two server farms—one configured to allow access by the public and named PUBLIC, one configured to allow limited access and named RESTRICTED.
•Five real servers configured as follows:
–Three real servers in the PUBLIC server farm with IP addresses 10.1.1.1, 10.1.1.2, and 10.1.1.3
–Two real servers in the restricted server farm with IP addresses 10.1.1.20 and 10.1.1.21
•Two virtual servers—one configured to allow access by the public and named PUBLIC_HTTP and one configured to allow limited access and named RESTRICTED_HTTP.
–Virtual server PUBLIC_HTTP is configured with IP address 10.0.0.1 load balancing TCP connections on the WWW port (80).
–Virtual server RESTRICTED_HTTP is configured with IP address 10.0.0.2 load balancing TCP connections on the WWW port (80) and allows access only from clients from network 10.4.4.0 255.255.255.0.
Figure 2 Example IOS SLB Network
The following sections include examples of the configuration commands used to configure and verify the IOS SLB network shown in Figure 2:
•Restricted Client Configuration
Server Farm Configuration
The following example shows the configuration for the server farm PUBLIC, associated with three real servers:
ip slb serverfarm PUBLICreal 10.1.1.1reassign 2faildetect numconns 4 numclients 2retry 20inserviceexitreal 10.1.1.2reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceexitreal 10.1.1.3reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceendThe following example shows the configuration for the server farm RESTRICTED, associated with two real servers:
ip slb serverfarm RESTRICTEDreal 10.1.1.20reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceexitreal 10.1.1.21reassign 2faildetect numconns 4retry 20inserviceendVirtual Server Configuration
The following example shows the configuration for the virtual servers PUBLIC_HTTP and RESTRICTED_HTTP:
ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTPvirtual 10.0.0.1 tcp wwwserverfarm PUBLICidle 120delay 5inserviceexitip slb vserver RESTRICTED_HTTPvirtual 10.0.0.2 tcp wwwserverfarm RESTRICTEDidle 120delay 5inserviceendRestricted Client Configuration
The following example shows the configuration for the virtual server RESTRICTED_HTTP:
ip slb vserver RESTRICTED_HTTPno inserviceclient 10.4.4.0 255.255.255.0inserviceendComplete IOS SLB Configuration Example
The following example provides a complete configuration using most of the commands described in this feature module:
ip slb probe PROBE2 httprequest method POST url /probe.cgi?allheader Cookie Monster!ip slb serverfarm PUBLICnat serverreal 10.1.1.1reassign 4faildetect numconns 16retry 120inservicereal 10.1.1.2reassign 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 3600000inserviceLayer 3 Switch with ISL, VLAN, and BVI with GEC Example
This example configuration focuses on both the Inter-Switch Link (ISL) and virtual LANs (VLANs), and on 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!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 171.69.5.10endIOS SLB with Firewall Load Balancing Example
Figure 3 shows a sample IOS SLB firewall load-balancing network with the following components:
•Two firewalls with IP addresses as shown
•An internal firewall load-balancing device on the secure side of the firewalls
•An external firewall load-balancing device on the Internet side of the firewalls
•One firewall farm named FIRE1, containing both firewalls
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 firewall farm configuration samples:
•The internal (secure side) firewall load-balancing device is configured with firewall IP addresses 10.1.3.1 and 10.1.4.1.
•The external (Internet side) firewall load-balancing device is configured with firewall IP addresses 10.1.1.2 and 10.1.2.2.
Internal Firewall Load-Balancing Device
The following example shows the configuration for ping probe PROBE1, HTTP probe PROBE2, and firewall farm FIRE1, associated with the two real servers for the load-balancing device on the internal (secure) side of the firewall:
!-----Ping probeip slb probe PROBE1 ping!-----IP address of other load-balancing deviceaddress 10.1.1.1faildetect 4!-----HTTP probeip slb probe PROBE2 http!-----IP address of other load-balancing deviceaddress 10.1.2.1expect status 401!-----Firewall farm FIRE1ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1!-----First firewallreal 10.1.4.1probe PROBE1!-----Enable first firewallinservice!-----Second firewallreal 10.1.3.1probe PROBE2!-----Enable second firewallinserviceexitinserviceExternal Firewall Load-Balancing Device
The following example shows the configuration for ping probe PROBE1, HTTP probe PROBE2, and firewall farm FIRE1, associated with the two real servers for the load-balancing device on the external (Internet) side of the firewall:
!-----Ping probeip slb probe PROBE1 ping!-----IP address of other load-balancing deviceaddress 10.1.4.2faildetect 4!-----HTTP probeip slb probe PROBE2 http!-----IP address of other load-balancing deviceaddress 10.1.3.2expect status 401!-----Firewall farm FIRE1ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1!-----First firewallreal 10.1.1.2probe PROBE1!-----Enable first firewallinservice!-----Second firewallreal 10.1.2.2probe PROBE2!-----Enable second firewallinserviceexitinserviceIOS SLB with Server Load Balancing and Firewall Load Balancing Example
Figure 4 shows a sample IOS SLB load-balancing network with server load balancing and firewall load balancing running together, and the following components:
•Two real servers with IP addresses as shown
•One server farm named PUBLIC, containing both real servers
•Two firewalls with IP addresses as shown
•One firewall farm named FIRE1, containing both firewalls
•An internal IOS SLB device on the secure side of the firewalls, performing server load balancing and firewall load balancing
•An external firewall load-balancing device on the Internet side of the firewalls
Figure 4 IOS SLB with Server Load Balancing and Firewall Load Balancing
In the following firewall farm configuration samples:
•The internal (secure side) firewall load-balancing device is configured with firewall IP addresses 10.1.3.1 and 10.1.4.1.
•The external (Internet side) firewall load-balancing device is configured with firewall IP addresses 10.1.1.2 and 10.1.2.2.
Internal Server and Firewall Load-Balancing Device
The following example shows the configuration for ping probes ABCPROBE and XYZPROBE, firewall farm FIRE1, and server farm PUBLIC for the load-balancing device on the internal (secure) side of the firewalls:
ip slb probe ABCPROBE pingaddress 10.1.1.1ip slb probe XYZPROBE pingaddress 10.1.2.1!ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1real 10.1.4.1probe ABCPROBEinservicereal 10.1.3.1probe XYZPROBEinserviceinservice!ip slb serverfarm PUBLICnat serverreal 10.2.1.1inservicereal 10.2.1.2inservice!ip slb vserver HTTP1virtual 128.1.0.1 tcp wwwserverfarm PUBLICidle 120delay 5inserviceExternal Firewall Load-Balancing Device
The following example shows the configuration for ping probes ABCPROBE and XYZPROBE and firewall farm FIRE1 for the load-balancing device on the external (Internet) side of the firewalls:
ip slb probe ABCPROBE pingaddress 10.1.4.2ip slb probe XYZPROBE pingaddress 10.1.3.2ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1real 10.1.1.2probe ABCPROBEinserviceprobe XYZPROBEinserviceinserviceIOS SLB with Multiple Firewall Farms Example
Figure 5 shows a sample IOS SLB load-balancing network with multiple firewall farms and the following components:
•Four firewalls with IP addresses as shown
•An internal firewall load-balancing device on the secure side of the firewalls
•An external firewall load-balancing device on the Internet side of the firewalls
•One firewall farm named ABCFARM, containing the two firewalls on the left.
•One firewall farm named XYZFARM, containing the two firewalls on the right.
Figure 5 IOS SLB with Multiple Firewall Farms
In the following firewall farm configuration samples:
•The internal (secure side) firewall load-balancing device is configured with firewall IP addresses 10.1.3.1 and 10.1.4.1.
•The external (Internet side) firewall load-balancing device is configured with firewall IP addresses 10.1.1.2 and 10.1.2.2.
Internal Firewall Load-Balancing Device
The following example shows the configuration for ping probes ABCPROBE and XYZPROBE and firewall farms ABCFARM and XYZFARM for the load-balancing device on the internal (secure) side of the firewalls:
ip slb probe ABCPROBE pingaddress 10.1.2.1ip slb probe XYZPROBE pingaddress 10.1.1.1ip slb firewallfarm ABCFARMaccess source 10.1.6.0 255.255.255.0inservicereal 10.1.4.2probe ABCPROBEinservicereal 10.1.4.3probe ABCPROBEinserviceip slb firewallfarm XYZFARMaccess source 10.1.5.0 255.255.255.0inservicereal 10.1.3.2probe XYZPROBEinservicereal 10.1.3.3probe XYZPROBEinserviceexitinserviceExternal Firewall Load-Balancing Device
The following example shows the configuration for ping probes ABCPROBE and XYZPROBE and firewall farms ABCFARM and XYZFARM for the load-balancing device on the external (Internet) side of the firewalls:
ip slb probe ABCPROBE pingaddress 10.1.4.1ip slb probe XYZPROBE pingaddress 10.1.3.1ip slb firewallfarm ABCFARMaccess destination 10.1.6.0 255.255.255.0inservicereal 10.1.2.2probe ABCPROBEinservicereal 10.1.2.3probe ABCPROBEinserviceip slb firewallfarm XYZFARMaccess destination 10.1.5.0 255.255.255.0inservicereal 10.1.1.2probe XYZPROBEinservicereal 10.1.1.3probe XYZPROBEinserviceexitinserviceIOS SLB with Probes Example
Figure 6 shows an example configuration with IOS SLB real server connections configured as part of a server farm, focusing on using ping and HTTP probes to monitor applications being server load-balanced.
Figure 6 Sample Ping and HTTP Probe Topology
:
The topology shown in Figure 6 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 modeip slb probe PROBE1 ping! Configure probe to receive responses from IP address 13.13.13.13address 13.13.13.13! Configure unacknowledged ping threshold to 16faildetect 16! Configure ping probe timer interval to transmit every 11 secondsinterval 11! Configure HTTP probe PROBE2ip slb probe PROBE2 http! Configure request method as POST, set URL as /probe.cgi?allrequest method post url /probe.cgi?all! Configure header Cookieheader Cookie Monster! Configure basic authentication username and passwordcredentials Semisweet chips! Exit to global configuration modeexit! Enter IOS SLB server farm configuration mode for server farm PUBLICip slb serverfarm PUBLIC! Configure NAT server and real servers on the server farmnat serverreal 10.1.1.1inservicereal 10.1.1.2inservicereal 10.1.1.3inservicereal 10.1.1.4inservicereal 10.1.1.5inservice! Configure ping probe on the server farmprobe PROBE1! Configure HTTP probe on the server farmprobe PROBE2endLayer 3 Switch Configured with IOS SLB Example
Figure 7 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 7 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 5inserviceIOS SLB with NAT Example
Figure 8 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 8 Sample IOS SLB NAT Topology
The topology in Figure 8 has four web servers, configured as follows:
•Servers 1, 2, and 3 are running single HTTP server applications listening on port 80.
•Server 4 has multiple HTTP server applications listening on ports 8080, 8081, and 8082.
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 5inserviceExamples 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.
•If a load balancing device is capable of Layer 2 switching and VLAN trunking (such as the Catalyst 6500 Family Switch), you can wire the device directly to its real servers, and it can handle outbound flows from the real servers while acting as a standby for IOS SLB. HSRP is used on the server-side VLANs of the load balancing device, with the real servers routing to the HSRP address.
•If a load balancing device is not capable of both Layer 2 switching and VLAN trunking, you must connect it and its real servers to a Layer 2 switch. This configuration is required in order to use HSRP on the server-side VLANs.
•If a distribution device is capable of Layer 3 switching, it can use route redistribution to direct flows to the active load balancing device.
•If a distribution device is capable of Layer 2 switching, it can use client-side HSRP on the load balancing device to direct flows to the active load balancing device.
•While HSRP offers faster failover times, routing converges quickly enough for most configurations. If you use both client-side and server-side HSRP on the load balancing devices, you must use HSRP interface tracking and priorities to synchronize the client-side and server-side HSRP groups.
This section contains the following examples, illustrating several different IOS SLB stateless backup configurations:
•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
Note Stateful backup is omitted from these examples in the interest of simplicity. To see an example that uses stateful backup, see the "IOS SLB with Stateful Backup Example" section.
Example with Dynamic Routing and Trunking
Figure 9 shows a sample IOS SLB stateless backup configuration with the following characteristics:
•The IP address for real server 1 is 10.10.1.3, and for real server 2 is 10.10.1.4, routed to clients through 10.10.1.100.
•The IP address for the virtual server is 10.10.14.1.
•The IP address for VLAN 1 is 10.10.1.0, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
•The IP address for Subnet 2 is 10.10.2.0, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
•The IP address for Subnet 3 is 10.10.3.0, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
•The distribution device uses EIGRP to learn the route to 10.10.14.1 via either 10.10.2.1 or 10.10.3.1, depending on which IOS SLB is active.
Figure 9 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 sync 20standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2standby timers 1 3router 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 sync 20standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2standby timers 1 3router eigrp 666redistribute staticnetwork 10.0.0.0Example with Dynamic Routing and No Trunking
Figure 10 shows a sample IOS SLB stateless backup configuration with the following characteristics:
•The IP address for real server 1 is 10.10.1.3, and for real server 2 is 10.10.1.4, routed to clients through 10.10.1.100.
•The IP address for the virtual server is 10.10.14.1.
•The IP address for Subnet 2 is 10.10.2.0, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
•The IP address for Subnet 3 is 10.10.3.0, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
•The distribution device uses EIGRP to learn the route to 10.10.14.1 via either 10.10.2.2 or 10.10.3.2, depending on which IOS SLB is active.
Figure 10 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 sync 20standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2standby timers 1 3int 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 sync 20standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2standby timers 1 3int Eth2ip address 10.10.3.1 255.255.255.0router eigrp 666redistribute staticnetwork 10.0.0.0Example with Static Routing and Trunking
Figure 11 shows a sample IOS SLB stateless backup configuration with the following characteristics:
•The IP address for real server 1 is 10.10.1.3, and for real server 2 is 10.10.1.4, routed to clients through 10.10.1.100.
•The IP address for the virtual server is 10.10.14.1.
•The IP address for VLAN 1 is 10.10.1.0, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
•The IP address for Subnet 2 is 10.10.2.0, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
•The IP address for Subnet 3 is 10.10.3.0, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
•The configuration uses static routing to the HSRP route on the distribution device.
Figure 11 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 sync 20standby track vlan1standby timers 1 3int vlan 1ip address 10.10.1.1 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.1.100standby priority 10 preempt delay sync 20standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2standby timers 1 3SLB 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 sync 20standby track vlan 1standby timers 1 3int vlan 1ip address 10.10.1.2 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.1.100standby priority 5 preempt delay sync 20standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2standby timers 1 3Distribution 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 12 shows a sample IOS SLB stateless backup configuration with the following characteristics:
•The IP address for real server 1 is 10.10.1.3, and for real server 2 is 10.10.1.4, routed to clients through 10.10.1.100.
•The IP address for the virtual server is 10.10.14.1.
•The IP address for Subnet 2 is 10.10.2.0, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
•The IP address for Subnet 3 is 10.10.3.0, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
•The configuration uses static routing to the HSRP route on the distribution device.
Figure 12 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 sync 20standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2standby timers 1 3int Eth2ip address 10.10.2.1 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.2.100standby priority 10 preempt delay sync 20standby track Eth1standby timers 1 3SLB 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 sync 20standby name SERVERstandby track Eth2standby timers 1 3int Eth2ip address 10.10.2.2 255.255.255.0standby ip 10.10.2.100standby priority 5 preempt delay sync 20standby track Eth1standby timers 1 3Distribution 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 10.10.2.100IOS SLB with Stateful Backup Example
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 13 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 devices 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.
Note To allow HSRP to function properly, set spantree portfast must be configured on any Layer 2 device between the IOS SLB switches.
Figure 13 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 loopback 1ip 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 sync 20standby name outstandby ip 10.10.3.100standby track FastEthernet2standby timers 1 3!interface FastEthernet2ip address 10.10.2.132 255.255.255.0no ip redirectsstandby priority 5 preempt delay sync 20standby name virtstandby ip 10.10.2.100standby track FastEthernet1standby timers 1 3Switch 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 loopback 1ip 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 sync 20standby name virtstandby ip 10.10.2.100standby track FastEthernet3standby timers 1 3!interface FastEthernet3ip address 10.10.3.99 255.255.255.0no ip redirectsno ip route-cacheno ip mroute-cachestandby priority 10 preempt delay sync 20standby name outstandby ip 10.10.3.100standby track FastEthernet2standby timers 1 3IOS SLB with Active Standby Example
Figure 14 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 14 IOS SLB Active Standby
The sample network configuration in Figure 14 has the following characteristics:
•SLB 1 balances servers 1A and 1B and SLB 2 balances 2A and 2B.
•A single virtual IP address (10.10.10.12 for web) is supported across the two IOS SLB devices.
•Client traffic is divided in an access router, sending clients with even IP addresses to HSRP1 (10.10.5.100) and clients with odd IP addresses to HSRP2 (10.10.2.100). SLB 1 is configured as primary for clients with odd IP addresses, and SLB 2 is primary for clients with even IP addresses.
•The IOS SLB devices balance the traffic to disjoint sets of real servers. (If client NAT was used in this example, this would not be a requirement).
•Each set of real servers has a default gateway configured to its IOS SLB device.
•The HSRP address on VLAN 105 is 10.10.5.100. The HSRP address on VLAN 102 is 10.10.2.100.
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!!-----Same EVEN virtual server as in SLB 2ip slb vserver EVENvirtual 10.10.10.12 tcp wwwserverfarm EVENclient 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.1idle 120delay 5!-----See standby name in Ethernet 3/3 belowinservice standby STANDBY_EVEN!!-----Same ODD virtual server as in SLB 2ip slb vserver ODDvirtual 10.10.10.12 tcp wwwserverfarm ODDclient 0.0.0.1 0.0.0.1idle 120delay 5!-----See standby name in Ethernet 3/2 belowinservice standby STANDBY_ODD!interface Ethernet3/2ip address 10.10.5.132 255.255.255.0standby priority 20 preempt delay sync 20!-----See standby name in SLB 2, Ethernet 3/5standby name STANDBY_ODDstandby ip 10.10.5.100standby track Ethernet3/3standby timers 1 3!interface Ethernet3/3ip address 10.10.2.132 255.255.255.0standby priority 10!-----See standby name in SLB 2, Ethernet 3/1standby name STANDBY_EVENstandby ip 10.10.2.100standby track Ethernet3/2standby timers 1 3SLB 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!!-----Same EVEN virtual server as in SLB 1ip slb vserver EVENvirtual 10.10.10.12 tcp wwwserverfarm EVENclient 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.1idle 120delay 5!-----See standby name in Ethernet 3/1 belowinservice standby STANDBY_EVEN!!-----Same ODD virtual server as in SLB 1ip slb vserver ODDvirtual 10.10.10.12 tcp wwwserverfarm ODDclient 0.0.0.1 0.0.0.1idle 120delay 5!-----See standby name in Ethernet 3/5 belowinservice standby STANDBY_ODD!interface Ethernet3/1ip address 10.10.2.128 255.255.255.0standby priority 20 preempt delay sync 20!-----See standby name in SLB 1, Ethernet 3/3standby name STANDBY_EVENstandby ip 10.10.2.100standby track Ethernet3/5standby timers 1 3!interface Ethernet3/5ip address 10.10.5.128 255.255.255.0standby priority 10 preempt delay sync 20!-----See standby name in SLB 1, Ethernet 3/2standby name STANDBY_ODDstandby ip 10.10.5.100standby track Ethernet3/1standby timers 1 3Access 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 10.10.2.100IOS SLB with Redistribution of Static Routes Example
Figure 15 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 description of the advertise command in the "Command Reference" section 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 15 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 15:
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 15:
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 15:
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 15:
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 15:
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 15:
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 15:
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 15:
router eigrp 666network 10.0.0.0network 8.0.0.0Examples of IOS SLB with WAP Load Balancing
Figure 16 shows an IOS SLB network configured to balance WAP flows. In this example:
•WAP flows are balanced between WAP gateways 10.10.2.1, 10.10.2.2, and 10.10.2.3.
•The clients connect to 10.10.1.1, the IOS SLB virtual server address.
•For a given session, load-balancing decisions change if the connection idles longer than the virtual server's idle connection timer (3000 seconds in this example).
Figure 16 IOS SLB with WAP Load Balancing
There are two ways to configure IOS SLB load balancing for WAP:
•To load balance sessions running in connection-oriented WSP mode, define a WSP probe and use WAP load balancing. WAP load balancing requires a WAP virtual server configured on one of the WAP ports.
•To load balance sessions running in connectionless WSP, connectionless secure WSP, and connection-oriented secure WSP modes, define a ping or WSP probe and use standard UDP load balancing with a low idle timer.
Example with WAP Load Balancing
The following example shows the configuration for the IOS SLB device shown in Figure 16, which balances WAP flows on UDP port 9201 (WSP/WTP/UDP):
ip slb probe PROBE3 wspurl http://localhost/test.txt!ip slb serverfarm WAPFARMnat serverreal 10.10.2.1inservicereal 10.10.2.2inservicereal 10.10.2.3inserviceprobe PROBE3!ip slb vserver VSERVERvirtual 10.10.1.1 udp 9201serverfarm WAPFARMidle 3000inserviceExample with UDP Load Balancing
The following example shows the configuration for the IOS SLB device shown in Figure 16, which balances WAP flows on UDP port 9203 (WSP/WTP/WTLS/UDP):
ip slb probe PROBE1 ping!ip slb serverfarm WAPFARMnat serverreal 10.10.2.1inservicereal 10.10.2.2inservicereal 10.10.2.3inserviceprobe PROBE1!ip slb vserver VSERVERvirtual 10.10.1.1 udp 9203serverfarm WAPFARMidle 3000inserviceExamples of IOS SLB with Route Health Injection
This section contains the following examples, illustrating several different IOS SLB route health injection configurations:
•Example with Two Distributed Sites with One Web Server Each
•Example with Two Distributed Sites with Two Web Servers Each
•Example with Two Distributed Sites with One Web Server and a Backup IOS SLB Switch Each
Example with Two Distributed Sites with One Web Server Each
Figure 17 shows an IOS SLB network configured with route health injection with the following characteristics:
•Both IOS SLB devices are configured with the same virtual IP address.
•Each IOS SLB device has a server farm containing only the locally attached web server as a real server.
•The path to SLB A has the lower weight.
Figure 17 Two Distributed Sites with One Web Server Each
When both web servers in Figure 17 are operational, the client router receives the host route from both IOS SLB devices.
If Web Server A fails, the virtual server for the virtual IP address on SLB A enters FAILED state and stops advertising the host route for the virtual IP address. The client router then begins using the route to SLB B.
When Web Server A is again available, the virtual server again advertises the host route for the virtual IP address, and the client router begins using SLB A.
Example with Two Distributed Sites with Two Web Servers Each
Figure 18 shows an IOS SLB network configured with route health injection with the following characteristics:
•Both IOS SLB devices are configured with the same virtual IP address.
•Each IOS SLB device has a server farm containing two locally attached web servers as real servers.
•The path to SLB A has the lower weight.
Figure 18 Two Distributed Sites with Two Web Servers Each
When all web servers in Figure 18 are operational, the client router receives the host route from both IOS SLB devices.
If one web server in either server farm fails, the route continues to be advertised by the given IOS SLB device.
If both Web Server A1 and Web Server A2 fail, the virtual server for the virtual IP address on SLB A enters FAILED state and stops advertising the host route for the virtual IP address. The client router then begins using the route to SLB B.
When either Web Server A1 or Web Server A2 is again available, the virtual server again advertises the host route for the virtual IP address, and the client router begins using SLB A.
Example with Two Distributed Sites with One Web Server and a Backup IOS SLB Switch Each
Figure 19 shows an IOS SLB network configured with route health injection with the following characteristics:
•Both IOS SLB devices are configured with the same virtual IP address.
•Each IOS SLB device has a server farm containing only the locally attached web server as a real server.
•Each site has a primary IOS SLB device and a backup IOS SLB device.
•The path to SLB A has the lower weight.
Figure 19 Two Distributed Sites with One Web Server and a Backup IOS SLB Switch Each
When both web servers in Figure 19 are operational, the client router receives the host route from both SLB A Primary and SLB B Primary.
If SLB A Primary fails, SLB A Backup begins advertising the host route to the virtual IP address. If SLB A Backup also fails, the virtual server for the virtual IP address on SLB A Primary and SLB A Backup enters FAILED state and stops advertising the host route for the virtual IP address. The client router then begins using the route to SLB B Primary (or to SLB B Backup, if SLB B Primary is not available).
When either SLB A Primary or SLB A Backup is again available, the virtual server again advertises the host route for the virtual IP address, and the client router begins using SLB A Primary or SLB A Backup.
IOS SLB with GPRS Load Balancing Example
Figure 20 shows a typical GPRS load-balancing configuration. In this configuration:
•IOS SLB can balance GPRS flows across multiple real GGSNs. The SGSN "sees" the real GGSNs as a single virtual GGSN. This configuration increases the flow-handling capability of the real GGSNs and increases the reliability and availability.
•The virtual template address of the SGSN is 10.111.111.111.
•The virtual template address of GGSN1 is 192.168.1.1.
•The virtual template address of GGSN2 is 192.168.2.2.
•The virtual template address of GGSN3 is 192.168.3.3.
Figure 20 IOS SLB with GPRS Load Balancing
Following are the configuration statements for the configuration shown in Figure 20:
•IOS SLB Configuration Statements
•GGSN1 Configuration Statements
•GGSN2 Configuration Statements
•GGSN3 Configuration Statements
For more detailed GGSN configuration examples, see the Cisco IOS Mobile Wireless Configuration Guide.
IOS SLB Configuration Statements
hostname GTP_SLB!ip domain-name gprs.com!ip slb serverfarm GPRSreal 192.168.1.1weight 1faildetect numconns 1 numclients 1inservice!real 192.168.2.2weight 1faildetect numconns 1 numclients 1inservice!real 192.168.3.3weight 1faildetect numconns 1 numclients 1inservice!ip slb vserver FOR_GPRSvirtual 10.10.10.10 udp 3386 service gtpserverfarm GPRSinservice!ip slb dfp password Cookies 0agent 10.1.1.201 1111 30 0 10agent 10.1.1.202 1111 30 0 10agent 10.1.1.203 1111 30 0 10!interface FastEthernet1/0description TO SERVERFARM GPRSip address 10.1.1.100 255.255.255.0no ip redirectsduplex half!interface FastEthernet3/0description TO SGSNip address 10.2.1.100 255.255.255.0no ip mroute-cacheduplex half!ip route 10.111.111.111 255.255.255.255 FastEthernet1/0ip route 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.255 10.1.1.201ip route 192.168.2.2 255.255.255.255 10.1.1.202ip route 192.168.3.3 255.255.255.255 10.1.1.203GGSN1 Configuration Statements
service gprs ggsn!hostname GGSN1!ip dfp agent gprsport 1111password Cookies 0inservice!ip domain-name gprs.com!interface loopback 1description LOOPBACK SAME AS IOS SLB VSERVER ADDRESSip address 10.10.10.10 255.255.255.255no ip route-cacheno ip mroute-cache!interface FastEthernet1/0description TO SLBip address 10.1.1.201 255.255.255.0ip directed-broadcastno ip mroute-cacheduplex half!interface Virtual-Template1description GTP VIRTUAL TEMPLATEip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0encapsulation gtpgprs access-point-list gprs1!ip route 10.111.111.111 255.255.255.255 FastEthernet1/0!gprs access-point-list gprs1access-point 1access-point-name gprs.company.comaccess-mode non-transparentip-address-pool dhcp-proxy-clientdhcp-server 10.100.0.5 10.100.0.6dhcp-gateway-address 10.27.3.1exit!gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed 45000gprs qos map canonical-qosgprs gtp path-echo-interval 0gprs dfp max-weight 32gprs slb cef 10.10.10.10GGSN2 Configuration Statements
service gprs ggsn!hostname GGSN2!ip dfp agent gprsport 1111password Cookies 0inservice!ip domain-name gprs.com!interface loopback 1description LOOPBACK SAME AS IOS SLB VSERVER ADDRESSip address 10.10.10.10 255.255.255.255no ip route-cacheno ip mroute-cache!interface FastEthernet1/0description TO SLBip address 10.1.1.202 255.255.255.0ip directed-broadcastno ip mroute-cacheduplex half!interface Virtual-Template1description GTP VIRTUAL TEMPLATEip address 192.168.2.2 255.255.255.0encapsulation gtpgprs access-point-list gprs1!ip route 10.111.111.111 255.255.255.255 FastEthernet1/0!gprs access-point-list gprs1access-point 1access-point-name gprs.company.comaccess-mode non-transparentip-address-pool dhcp-proxy-clientdhcp-server 10.100.0.5 10.100.0.6dhcp-gateway-address 10.27.3.1exit!gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed 45000gprs qos map canonical-qosgprs gtp path-echo-interval 0gprs dfp max-weight 32gprs slb cef 10.10.10.10GGSN3 Configuration Statements
service gprs ggsn!hostname GGSN3!ip dfp agent gprsport 1111password Cookies 0inservice!ip domain-name gprs.com!interface loopback 1description LOOPBACK SAME AS IOS SLB VSERVER ADDRESSip address 10.10.10.10 255.255.255.255no ip route-cacheno ip mroute-cache!interface FastEthernet1/0description TO SLBip address 10.1.1.203 255.255.255.0ip directed-broadcastno ip mroute-cacheduplex half!interface Virtual-Template1description GTP VIRTUAL TEMPLATEip address 192.168.3.3 255.255.255.0encapsulation gtpgprs access-point-list gprs1!ip route 10.111.111.111 255.255.255.255 FastEthernet1/0!gprs access-point-list gprs1access-point 1access-point-name gprs.company.comaccess-mode non-transparentip-address-pool dhcp-proxy-clientdhcp-server 10.100.0.5 10.100.0.6dhcp-gateway-address 10.27.3.1exit!gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed 45000gprs qos map canonical-qosgprs gtp path-echo-interval 0gprs dfp max-weight 32gprs slb cef 10.10.10.10IOS SLB with GPRS Load Balancing and NAT Example
The following example uses the same basic configuration as in the "IOS SLB with GPRS Load Balancing Example" section, including the network shown in Figure 20, but with the addition of NAT:
•IOS SLB Configuration Statements
•GGSN1 Configuration Statements
•GGSN2 Configuration Statements
•GGSN3 Configuration Statements
For more detailed GGSN configuration examples, see the Cisco IOS Mobile Wireless Configuration Guide.
IOS SLB Configuration Statements
hostname GTP_SLB!ip domain-name gprs.com!ip slb serverfarm GPRSnat serverreal 192.168.1.1weight 1faildetect numconns 1 numclients 1inservice!real 192.168.2.2weight 1faildetect numconns 1 numclients 1inservice!real 192.168.3.3weight 1faildetect numconns 1 numclients 1inservice!ip slb vserver FOR_GPRSvirtual 10.10.10.10 udp 3386 service gtpserverfarm GPRSinservice!ip slb dfp password Cookies 0agent 10.1.1.201 1111 30 0 10agent 10.1.1.202 1111 30 0 10agent 10.1.1.203 1111 30 0 10!interface FastEthernet1/0description TO SERVERFARM GPRSip address 10.1.1.100 255.255.255.0no ip redirectsduplex half!interface FastEthernet3/0description TO SGSNip address 10.2.1.100 255.255.255.0no ip mroute-cacheduplex half!ip route 10.111.111.111 255.255.255.255 FastEthernet1/0ip route 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.255 10.1.1.201ip route 192.168.2.2 255.255.255.255 10.1.1.202ip route 192.168.3.3 255.255.255.255 10.1.1.203GGSN1 Configuration Statements
service gprs ggsn!hostname GGSN1!ip dfp agent gprsport 1111password Cookies 0inservice!ip domain-name gprs.com!interface FastEthernet1/0description TO SLBip address 10.1.1.201 255.255.255.0ip directed-broadcastno ip mroute-cacheduplex halfinterface Virtual-Template1description GTP VIRTUAL TEMPLATEip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0encapsulation gtpgprs access-point-list gprs1!ip route 10.111.111.111 255.255.255.255 FastEthernet1/0!gprs access-point-list gprs1access-point 1access-point-name gprs.company.comaccess-mode non-transparentip-address-pool dhcp-proxy-clientdhcp-server 10.100.0.5 10.100.0.6dhcp-gateway-address 10.27.3.1exit!gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed 45000gprs qos map canonical-qosgprs gtp path-echo-interval 0gprs dfp max-weight 32GGSN2 Configuration Statements
service gprs ggsn!hostname GGSN2!ip dfp agent gprsport 1111password Cookies 0inservice!ip domain-name gprs.com!interface FastEthernet1/0description TO SLBip address 10.1.1.202 255.255.255.0ip directed-broadcastno ip mroute-cacheduplex halfinterface Virtual-Template1description GTP VIRTUAL TEMPLATEip address 192.168.2.2 255.255.255.0encapsulation gtpgprs access-point-list gprs1!ip route 10.111.111.111 255.255.255.255 FastEthernet1/0!gprs access-point-list gprs1access-point 1access-point-name gprs.company.comaccess-mode non-transparentip-address-pool dhcp-proxy-clientdhcp-server 10.100.0.5 10.100.0.6dhcp-gateway-address 10.27.3.1exit!gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed 45000gprs qos map canonical-qosgprs gtp path-echo-interval 0gprs dfp max-weight 32GGSN3 Configuration Statements
service gprs ggsn!hostname GGSN3!ip dfp agent gprsport 1111password Cookies 0inservice!ip domain-name gprs.com!interface FastEthernet1/0description TO SLBip address 10.1.1.203 255.255.255.0ip directed-broadcastno ip mroute-cacheduplex half!interface Virtual-Template1description GTP VIRTUAL TEMPLATEip address 192.168.3.3 255.255.255.0encapsulation gtpgprs access-point-list gprs1!ip route 10.111.111.111 255.255.255.255 FastEthernet1/0!gprs access-point-list gprs1access-point 1access-point-name gprs.company.comaccess-mode non-transparentip-address-pool dhcp-proxy-clientdhcp-server 10.100.0.5 10.100.0.6dhcp-gateway-address 10.27.3.1exit!gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed 45000gprs qos map canonical-qosgprs gtp path-echo-interval 0gprs dfp max-weight 32IOS SLB with Sticky Connections Example
The following sample configuration assigns all HTTP connections from a subnet to the same real server in server farm PUBLIC:
ip slb vserver httpserverfarm PUBLICsticky 30 group 1 netmask 255.255.255.248virtual 20.20.20.20 tcp 80inserviceThe following sample configuration adds HTTPS connections to the above configuration, using the same sticky information but with a different virtual server:
ip slb vserver httpsserverfarm PUBLICsticky 30 group 1 netmask 255.255.255.248virtual 20.20.20.20 tcp 443inserviceNow, all HTTP and HTTPS connections from the subnet are assigned to the same real server. For example, if a user connects to HTTP, then a second user connects to HTTPS, both connections are assigned to the same real server.
IOS SLB with Transparent Webcache Load Balancing
In the following sample configuration, virtual server WEBCACHE examines all web flows passing through the load-balancing device and dispatches them to server farm WEBCACHE-FARM. The client exclude statement ignores flows originating from subnet 80.80.7.0, enabling the real servers 80.80.7.188 and 80.80.7.189 to communicate with the Internet as needed.
ip slb serverfarm WEBCACHE-FARMreal 80.80.7.188inservicereal 80.80.7.189inservice!ip slb vserver WEBCACHEvirtual 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 tcp wwwserverfarm WEBCACHE-FARMclient 80.80.7.0 255.255.255.0 excludeinserviceCommand Reference
This section documents new or modified commands. All other commands used with this feature are documented in the Cisco IOS Release 12.2 command reference publications.
•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)
•nat
•predictor hash address (firewall farm)
•probe (firewall farm real server)
•replicate casa (firewall farm)
•replicate casa (virtual server)
•sticky (firewall farm TCP protocol)
•sticky (firewall farm UDP protocol)
•tcp
•udp
•weight (firewall farm real server)
access
To route specific flows to a firewall farm, use the access firewall farm configuration command. To restore the default settings, use the no form of this command.
access [source source-ip-address network-mask] [destination destination-ip-address network-mask]
no access [source source-ip-address network-mask] [destination destination-ip-address network-mask]
Syntax Description
Defaults
The default source IP address is 0.0.0.0 (route flows from all sources to this firewall farm).
The default source IP network mask is 0.0.0.0 (route flows from all source subnets to this firewall farm).
The default destination IP address is 0.0.0.0 (route flows from all destinations to this firewall farm).
The default destination IP network mask is 0.0.0.0 (route flows from all destination subnets to this firewall farm).
Command Modes
Firewall farm configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(7)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
You can specify more than one source or destination for each firewall farm. To do so, configure multiple access statements, making sure the network masks do not overlap each other.
Examples
The following example routes flows with a destination IP address of 10.1.6.0 to firewall farm FIRE1:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# access destination 10.1.6.0 255.255.255.0
Related Commands
address (HTTP probe)
To configure an IP address to which to send HTTP probes, 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
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
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 http
Router(config-slb-probe)# address 13.13.13.13
Related Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures an HTTP probe name and changes to HTTP probe configuration submode.
Displays information about an IOS SLB probe.
address (ping probe)
To configure an IP address to which to send ping probes, 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
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example configures a ping probe named PROBE1, changes the CLI to IOS SLB ping probe submode, and configures the probe to receive responses from IP address 13.13.13.13:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE1 ping
Router(config-slb-probe)# address 13.13.13.13
Related Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures a ping probe name and changes to ping probe configuration submode.
Displays information about an IOS SLB probe.
address (WSP probe)
To configure an IP address to which to send WSP probes, use the address WSP 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 WSP probe is associated with a firewall farm, you must specify an ip-address.
If the WSP 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.
In dispatched mode, ip-address is the same as the virtual server IP address. In directed (NAT) mode, ip-address is unnecessary.
Command Modes
WSP probe configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(5a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example configures a ping probe named PROBE3, changes the CLI to IOS SLB WSP probe submode, and configures the probe to receive responses from IP address 13.13.13.13:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE3 wsp
Router(config-slb-probe)# address 13.13.13.13
Related Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures a WSP probe name and changes to WSP probe configuration submode.
Displays information about an IOS SLB probe.
advertise
To control the installation of a static route to the Null0 interface for a virtual server address, use the advertise virtual server configuration command. To prevent the installation of a static route for the virtual server IP address, use the no form of this command.
advertise [active]
no advertise [active]
Syntax Description
Defaults
The virtual server IP address is advertised. That is, a static route to the Null0 interface is installed for the virtual server IP addresses and it is added to the routing table.
If you do not specify active, the host route is advertised regardless of whether the virtual IP address is available.
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Advertisement of a static route using the routing protocol requires that you configure redistribution of static routes for the routing protocol.
The advertise command does not affect virtual servers used for transparent webcache load balancing.
HTTP probes and route health injection require a route to the virtual server. The route is not used, but it must exist to enable the sockets code to verify that the destination can be reached, which in turn is essential for HTTP probes and route health injection to function correctly.
•For HTTP probes, 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 either no advertise or advertise active, you must specify a default route.
•For route health injection, the route must be a default route.
HTTP probes and route health injection can both use the same default route; you do not need to specify two unique default routes.
Examples
The following example prevents advertisement of the virtual server's IP address in routing protocol updates:
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTP
Router(config-slb-vserver)# no advertise
Related Commands
agent
To identify a DFP agent with which IOS SLB can initiate connections, use the agent DFP configuration command. To remove a DFP 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
The password specified on the ip slb dfp command in the DFP manager must match the password specified on the password command in the DFP agent.
You can identify up to 1024 DFP agents.
Examples
The following example sets the DFP password to Cookies (to match the DFP agent's password), sets the timeout to 360 seconds, changes the CLI to DFP configuration mode, enables IOS SLB to connect to the DFP agent with IP address 10.1.1.1 and port number 2221, and sets a timeout of 30 seconds, an infinite number of retries, and a retry interval of 10 seconds:
Router(config)# ip slb dfp password Cookies 360
Router(config-slb-dfp)# agent 10.1.1.1 2221 30 0 10
Related Commands
Command Descriptionip dfp agent
Identifies a DFP agent subsystem and enters DFP agent configuration mode.
Configures DFP, supplies an optional password, and enters DFP configuration mode.
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
The default bind ID is 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 to 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.
In GPRS load balancing, bind IDs are not supported. Therefore do not use the bindid command in a GPRS load-balancing environment.
Examples
The following example configures bind ID 309:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# bindid 309
Related Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures DFP, supplies an optional password, and enters DFP configuration mode.
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
Usage Guidelines
In GPRS load balancing, the clear ip slb connections command clears connections, not sessions.
Examples
The following example clears the connection database of server farm FARM1:
Router# clear ip slb connections serverfarm FARM1
The following example clears the connection database of virtual server VSERVER1:
Router# clear ip slb connections vserver VSERVER1
The following example clears the IOS SLB counters:
Router# clear ip slb counters
Related Commands
client (virtual server)
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 [exclude]
no client ip-address network-mask
Syntax Description
Defaults
The default client IP address is 0.0.0.0 (all clients).
The default client IP network mask is 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.
If you configure probes in your network, you must also do one of the following:
•Configure the exclude keyword on the client command on the virtual server, to exclude connections initiated by the client IP address from the load-balancing scheme.
•Configure IP addresses on the IOS SLB device that are Layer 3-adjacent to the real servers used by 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_HTTP
Router(config-slb-vserver)# client 10.4.4.0 255.255.255.0
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
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
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
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 http
Router(config-slb-probe)# credentials lauren develop
Related Commands
debug gprs dfp
To display debug messages for GPRS DFP weight calculation, use the debug gprs dfp EXEC command. To stop debug output, use the no form of this command.
debug gprs dfp
no debug gprs dfp
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
EXEC configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(9)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
See the following caution before using debug commands:
Caution Because debugging output is assigned high priority in the CPU process, it can render the system unusable. For this reason, use debug commands only to troubleshoot specific problems or during troubleshooting sessions with Cisco technical support staff. Moreover, it is best to use debug commands during periods of lower network flows and fewer users. Debugging during these periods reduces the effect these commands have on other users on the system.
This command displays debug messages for GPRS DFP weight calculation. To display debug messages for the DFP agent subsystem, use the debug ip dfp agent command.
Examples
The following example configures a debug session to check all GPRS DFP weight calculation:
Router# debug gprs dfp
GPRS DFP debugging is onRouter#The following example stops all debugging:
Router# no debug all
All possible debugging has been turned offRouter#debug ip slb
To display debug messages for IOS SLB, use the debug ip slb EXEC command. To stop debug output, use the no form of this command.
debug ip slb {conns | dfp | firewallfarm | icmp | natpool | probe | reals | replication | sessions | vservers | all}
no debug ip slb {conns | dfp | firewallfarm | icmp | natpool | probe | reals | replication | sessions | vservers | all}
Syntax Description
all
Displays all debug messages for IOS SLB.
conns
Displays debug messages for all connections being handled by IOS SLB, including WSP events and states.
dfp
Displays debug messages for DFP.
•To display debug messages for the DFP agent subsystem, use the debug ip dfp agent command.
•To display debug messages for the GPRS DFP weight calculation, use the debug gprs dfp command.
firewallfarm
Displays debug messages related to firewall load balancing.
icmp
Displays all Internet Control Message Protocol debug messages for IOS SLB.
natpool
Displays debug messages related to the IOS SLB client NAT pool.
probe
Displays debug messages related to probes.
reals
Displays debug messages for all real servers defined to IOS SLB.
replication
Displays debug messages related to IOS SLB stateful backup virtual server.
sessions
Displays debug messages for all sessions being handled by IOS SLB.
vservers
Displays debug messages for all virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
EXEC configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
See the following caution before using debug commands:
Caution Because debugging output is assigned high priority in the CPU process, it can render the system unusable. For this reason, use debug commands only to troubleshoot specific problems or during troubleshooting sessions with Cisco technical support staff. Moreover, it is best to use debug commands during periods of lower network flows and fewer users. Debugging during these periods reduces the effect these commands have on other users on the system.
Examples
The following example configures a debug session to check all IP IOS SLB parameters:
Router# debug ip slb all
SLB All debugging is onRouter#The following example stops all debugging:
Router# no debug all
All possible debugging has been turned offRouter#The following example configures debugging to check IP IOS SLB replication used with stateful backup and displays the output from the send or transmit virtual server:
Router# debug ip slb replication
*Mar 2 08:02:38.019: SLB Replicate: (send) update vs: VS1 update_count 42delay (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
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
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 FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# tcp
Router(config-slb-fw-tcp)# delay 30
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Enters 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_HTTP
Router(config-slb-vserver)# delay 30
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
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
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.1(3a)E
The regex keyword and regular-expression variable were added.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
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:
•A status number other than the expected one is received.
•The expected regular expression is not received in the first 2920 bytes of probe output. (IOS SLB searches only the first 2920 bytes for the expected status code or regular expression.)
•The server fails to respond.
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 http
Router(config-slb-probe)# expect status 401 regex Copyright
Related Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures an HTTP probe name and changes to HTTP probe configuration submode.
Displays information about an IOS SLB probe.
failaction (firewall farm)
To reset client TCP connections to failed firewalls in the firewall farm, use the failaction firewall farm configuration command.
failaction purge
Syntax Description
purge
Resets client TCP connections to failed firewalls in the firewall farm without waiting for the TCP retransmission timeout.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Firewall farm configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(9)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
There is not a no form of this command.
Examples
In the following example, IOS SLB resets all client TCP connections to failed firewalls in firewall farm FIRE1:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# failaction purge
failaction (server farm)
To reset client TCP connections to failed real servers in the server farm, use the failaction server farm configuration command.
failaction purge
Syntax Description
purge
Resets client TCP connections to failed real servers in the server farm without waiting for the TCP retransmission timeout.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Server farm configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(9)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
There is not a no form of this command.
Examples
In the following example, IOS SLB resets all client TCP connections to failed real servers in server farm PUBLIC:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# failaction purge
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 unacknowledged pings allowed before a real server is considered to have failed. Valid range is 1 to 255. The default is 10 unacknowledged pings.
Defaults
The default value is 10 unacknowledged pings.
Command Modes
Ping probe configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
In the following example the unacknowledged ping threshold is set to 16:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE1 ping
Router(config-slb-probe)# faildetect 16
Related Commands
faildetect (real server)
To specify the conditions that indicate a real 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 failure threshold is 8.
If you specify the faildetect command but do not specify the numclients keyword, the default value of the client connection failure threshold is 2.
Command Modes
Real server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
IOS SLB does not fail the real server until both of the following conditions are met:
•There have been number-conns consecutive connection failures.
•There have been number-clients unique client connection failures.
That is, there can be many consecutive connection failures, but until there have also been number-clients unique client connection failures, IOS SLB does not fail the real server.
Similarly, there can be many unique client connection failures, but until there have also been number-conns consecutive connection failures, IOS SLB does not fail the real server.
In GPRS load balancing:
•The numconns keyword specifies the number of consecutive Create PDP requests allowed before IOS SLB fails the GGSN.
•The numclients keyword specifies the number of unique client Create PDP request failures allowed before IOS SLB fails the GGSN.
Examples
In the following example, numconns is set to 10 and numclients is set to 3:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.10.1.1
Router(config-slb-real)# faildetect numconns 10 numclients 3
With those settings, IOS SLB will not fail the real server until there have been 10 consecutive connection failures and there have been 3 unique client connection failures.
Related Commands
gprs dfp max-weight
To specify the maximum weight sent to a DFP manager by a GGSN acting as a DFP agent, use the gprs dfp max-weight global configuration command. To restore the default setting, use the no form of this command.
gprs dfp max-weight [max-weight-value]
no gprs dfp max-weight [max-weight-value]
Syntax Description
max-weight-value
Specifies the maximum weight sent by the GGSN, acting as a DFP agent, to a DFP manager. The valid range is 1 to 100. The default value is 8.
Defaults
The default maximum weight is 8.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(9)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
If you use DFP with GPRS load balancing, you must also specify a maximum number of PDP contexts for each GGSN, using the gprs maximum-pdp-context-allowed command. Do not accept the default value of 1000 PDP contexts. A value of 45000 is recommended. Significantly lower values, including the default value of 1000, can impact performance in a GPRS load-balancing environment.
Examples
The following example sets the maximum weight sent by GGSN to 43:
Router(config)# gprs dfp max-weight 43
Related Commands
gprs slb cef
To identify the IP address of the GGSN virtual server to CEF, use the gprs slb cef global configuration command. To remove the IP address identification, use the no form of this command.
gprs slb cef virtual-server-address
no gprs slb cef virtual-server-address
Syntax Description
virtual-server-address
IP address of the GGSN virtual server instance used by clients to connect to the server farm. (This virtual IP address is also a loopback address on the GGSN.)
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(9)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
This command is required if the GGSN is using CEF switching. If the GGSN is not using CEF switching, do not use this command.
Examples
The following example identifies the IP address of the GGSN virtual server, 10.0.0.13, to CEF:
Router(config)# gprs slb cef 10.0.0.13
Related Commands
Command Descriptioninterface loopback
Creates a loopback interface.
ip cef
Enables CEF on the RP card.
Configures the virtual server attributes.
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 address
Command Modes
HTTP probe configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
The header HTTP probe configuration command configures the name and value parameters of the header.
Note The colon ( : ) separating the field-name and field-value is automatically inserted if not provided. Multiple headers with the same name are not supported.
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 http
Router(config-slb-probe)# header Cookie Monster
Related Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures an HTTP probe name and changes to HTTP probe configuration submode.
Displays information about an IOS SLB probe.
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
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
If a client sends a TCP packet that is not a sequence number (SYN) or reset (RST) packet, and IOS SLB does not have a TCP connection object in its table (possibly due to expiration of the idle timer), IOS SLB sends a TCP RST to the client.
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 FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# tcp
Router(config-slb-fw-tcp)# idle 120
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Enters 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
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example instructs IOS SLB to maintain connection information for an idle connection for 120 seconds.
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# udp
Router(config-slb-fw-udp)# idle 120
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Enters 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 30 seconds in GPRS load balancing, or 3600 seconds (1 hour) in all other environments.
Defaults
The default idle duration is 30 seconds in GPRS load balancing, or 3600 seconds in all other environments.
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
If a client sends a TCP packet that is not a sequence number (SYN) or reset (RST) packet, and IOS SLB does not have a TCP connection object in its table (possibly due to expiration of the idle timer), IOS SLB sends a TCP RST to the client.
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 (except in GPRS load balancing); such a low value can reduce the efficiency of IOS SLB.
In most environments, the idle timer times out data paths. However, in GPRS load balancing, it times out the session context for signaling paths (not data paths).
In GPRS load balancing, you must specify an idle timer greater than the longest possible interval between PDP context requests on the SGSN. The longest interval can be expressed using the following algorithm:
Longest interval = T3 x 2(N3-2)
where T3 is the value specified on the gprs gtp t3-response response_interval command, and N3 is the value specified on the gprs gtp n3-requests n3-requests command (or the equivalent commands, if you are not using a Cisco SGSN).
For example, if response_interval is set to 3 and n3-requests is set to 6, then:
Longest interval = 3 x 2(6-2) = 3 x 2(4) = 3 x 16 = 48 seconds
Given those values, you must specify an idle timer of at least 49 seconds.
Examples
The following example instructs IOS SLB to maintain connection information for an idle connection for 120 seconds.
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTP
Router(config-slb-vserver)# idle 120
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
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
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
When you use the no form of this command to remove a firewall farm from service, the firewall farm quiesces gracefully. No new connections are assigned, and existing connections are allowed to complete.
Examples
In the following example, the firewall farm is enabled for use by the IOS SLB feature:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# inservice
Related Commands
Command DescriptionIdentifies a firewall by IP address farm and enters firewall farm configuration mode.
Displays information about the firewall farm configuration.
inservice (firewall farm real server)
To enable the firewall for use by IOS SLB, use the inservice firewall farm real server configuration command. To remove the firewall from service, use the no form of this command.
inservice
no inservice
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
If the inservice command is not specified, the firewall is defined to IOS SLB but is not used.
Command Modes
Firewall farm real server configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
IOS SLB firewall load balancing uses probes to detect failures. Therefore, if you have not configured a probe, the firewall is not placed in service.
When you use the no form of this command to remove a firewall from service, the firewall quiesces gracefully. No new connections are assigned, and existing connections are allowed to complete.
Examples
In the following example, the firewall is enabled for use by the IOS SLB feature:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# real 10.10.1.1
Router(config-slb-fw-real)# inservice
Related Commands
inservice (server farm real server)
To enable the real server for use by IOS SLB, use the inservice server farm real server configuration command. To remove the real server from service, use the no form of this command.
inservice
no inservice
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
If the inservice command is not specified, the real server is defined to IOS SLB but is not used.
Command Modes
Server farm real server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
When you use the no form of this command to remove a real server from service, the real server quiesces gracefully. No new connections are assigned, and existing connections are allowed to complete.
Examples
In the following example, the real server is enabled for use by the IOS SLB feature:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.10.1.1
Router(config-slb-sfarm-real)# inservice
Related Commands
inservice (server farm virtual server)
To enable the virtual server for use by IOS SLB, use the inservice server farm virtual server configuration command. To remove the virtual server 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 virtual server is defined to IOS SLB but is not used.
Command Modes
Server farm virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
When you use the no form of this command to remove a virtual server from service, the virtual server quiesces gracefully. No new connections are assigned, and existing connections are allowed to complete.
Examples
In the following example, the virtual server is enabled for use by the IOS SLB feature:
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTP
Router(config-slb-vserver)# inservice
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
Configures the virtual server attributes.
interval (HTTP probe)
To configure an HTTP probe interval, use the interval HTTP probe configuration command. To remove an HTTP probe interval configuration, use the no form of this command.
interval seconds
no interval seconds
Syntax Description
seconds
Designates the number of seconds to wait before reattempting the probe. Valid values range from 1-65535 seconds. The default interval is 8 seconds.
Defaults
The default interval value is 8 seconds.
Command Modes
HTTP probe configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example configures an HTTP probe named PROBE2, changes the CLI to HTTP submode, and configures the HTTP probe timer interval to transmit every 11 seconds:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE2 http
Router(config-slb-probe)# interval 11
Related Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures an HTTP probe name and changes to HTTP probe configuration submode.
Displays information about an IOS SLB probe.
interval (ping probe)
To configure a ping probe interval, use the interval ping probe configuration command. To remove a ping probe interval configuration, use the no form of this command.
interval seconds
no interval seconds
Syntax Description
seconds
Designates the number of seconds to wait before reattempting the probe. Valid values range from 1-65535 seconds. The default interval is 1 second.
Defaults
The default interval value is 1 second.
Command Modes
Ping probe configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example configures a ping probe named PROBE1, changes the CLI to ping submode, and configures the ping probe timer interval to transmit every 11 seconds:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE1 ping
Router(config-slb-probe)# interval 11
Related Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures a ping probe name and changes to ping probe configuration submode.
Displays information about an IOS SLB probe.
interval (WSP probe)
To configure a WSP probe interval, use the interval WSP probe configuration command. To remove a WSP probe interval configuration, use the no form of this command.
interval seconds
no interval seconds
Syntax Description
seconds
Designates the number of seconds to wait before reattempting the probe. Valid values range from 1-65535 seconds. The default interval is 8 seconds.
Defaults
The default interval value is 8 seconds.
Command Modes
WSP probe configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(5a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example configures a ping probe named PROBE3, changes the CLI to WSP probe submode, and configures the WSP probe timer interval to transmit every 11 seconds:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE3 wsp
Router(config-slb-probe)# interval 11
Related Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures a WSP probe name and changes to WSP probe configuration submode.
Displays information about an IOS SLB probe.
ip slb dfp
To configure DFP, supply an optional password, and initiate DFP configuration mode, use the ip slb dfp global configuration command. To remove the DFP configuration, use the no form of this command.
ip slb dfp [password [0 | 7] password [timeout]]
no ip slb dfp
Syntax Description
Defaults
The password encryption default is 0 (unencrypted).
The password timeout default is 180 seconds, if a password is specified.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The password specified on the ip slb dfp command in the DFP manager must match the password specified on the password command in the DFP agent.
The timeout option allows you to change the password without stopping messages between the DFP agent and its manager. The default value is 180 seconds.
During the timeout, the agent sends packets with the old password (or null, if there is no old password), and receives packets with either the old or new password. After the timeout expires, the agent sends and receives packets only with the new password; received packets that use the old password are discarded.
If you are changing the password for an entire load-balanced environment, set a longer timeout. This allows enough time for you to update the password on all agents and servers before the timeout expires. It also prevents mismatches between agents and servers that have begun running the new password and agents, and servers on which you have not yet changed the old password.
Examples
The following example configures DFP, sets the DFP password to Cookies and the timeout to 360 seconds, and changes the CLI to DFP configuration mode:
Router(config)# ip slb dfp password Cookies 360
Router(config-slb-dfp)#Related Commands
Command DescriptionIdentifies a DFP agent to which IOS SLB can connect.
ip dfp agent
Identifies a DFP agent subsystem and enters DFP agent configuration mode.
ip slb entries
To configure an initial allocation and a maximum value for IOS SLB database entries, use the ip slb entries global configuration command. To restore the default values, use the no form of this command.
ip slb entries [conn [init-conn [max-conn]] | frag [init-frag [max-frag]] | sticky [init-sticky [max-sticky]]]
no ip slb entries [conn | frag | sticky]
Syntax Description
Defaults
For connections, the default initial allocation is 8000 connections, and the default maximum is 8000000 connections.
For fragments, the default initial allocation is 4000 fragments, and the default maximum is 8000000 fragments.
For sticky connections, the default initial allocation is 2000 sticky connections, and the default maximum is 3200 sticky connections.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
If you configure an initial allocation value that exceeds the amount of available memory, memory might not be available for other features. In extreme cases, the router or switch might not boot properly. Therefore, be careful when you configure initial allocation values.
Examples
The following example configures an initial allocation of 128,000 connections, which can grow dynamically to a limit of 512,000 connections:
Router(config)# ip slb entries conn 128000 512000
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays all connections handled by IOS SLB, or, optionally, only those connections associated with a particular virtual server or client.
ip slb firewallfarm
To identify a firewall farm and initiate firewall farm configuration mode, use the ip slb firewallfarm global configuration command. To remove the firewall farm from the IOS SLB configuration, use the no form of this command.
ip slb firewallfarm firewallfarm-name
no ip slb firewallfarm firewallfarm-name
Syntax Description
firewallfarm-name
Character string used to identify the firewall farm. The character string is limited to 15 characters.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
Grouping real servers into firewall farms is an essential part of IOS SLB firewall load balancing. Using firewall farms enables IOS SLB to assign new connections to the real servers based on their weighted capacities, and on the load-balancing algorithms used.
Examples
The following example identifies a firewall farm named FIRE1:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)#?Related Commands
Command DescriptionIdentifies a firewall by IP address as a member of a firewall farm and enters real server configuration mode.
ip slb natpool
To configure an IOS SLB NAT, use the ip slb natpool configuration command to create at least one client address pool. To remove an ip slb natpool configuration, use the no form of this command.
ip slb natpool pool-name start-ip end-ip [netmask netmask | prefix-length leading_1_bits] [entries init-addr [max-addr]]
no ip slb natpool pool-name
Syntax Description
Defaults
The default initial allocation is 8000 client NAT address entries.
The default maximum number of client NAT address entries that can be allocated is the maximum number of ports that can be allocated within the IP address range.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
If you want to use client NAT, you must create at least one client address pool.
Examples
The following example configures an IOS SLB NAT server farm pool of addresses with the name web-clients, the IP address range from 128.3.0.1 through 128.3.0.254, and a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0:
Router(config)# ip slb natpool web-clients 128.3.0.1 128.3.0.254 netmask 255.255.0.0Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the IOS SLB NAT configuration.
Displays information about the server farm configuration.
ip slb probe (HTTP probe)
To configure an HTTP probe name and to change to HTTP probe configuration submode, use the ip slb probe (HTTP probe) configuration command. To remove an ip slb probe configuration, use the no form of this command.
ip slb probe name http
no ip slb probe name
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
This command configures the HTTP probe name and application protocol, and changes the user interface to HTTP submode.
The HTTP probe cannot be unconfigured while it is being used by the server farm or firewall farm.
You can configure more than one probe, in any combination of types (HTTP, ping, or WSP), for each server farm, or for each firewall in a firewall farm.
Note HTTP probes require a route to the virtual server. The route is not used, but it must exist to enable the sockets code to verify that the destination can be reached, which in turn is essential 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).
Examples
The following example configures an IOS SLB probe named PROBE2, then changes to HTTP probe configuration submode:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE2 http
Router(config-slb-probe)#Related Commands
ip slb probe (ping probe)
To configure a ping probe name and to change to ping probe configuration submode, use the ip slb probe (ping probe) configuration command. To remove an ip slb probe configuration, use the no form of this command.
ip slb probe name ping
no ip slb probe name
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
This command configures the ping probe name and application protocol, and changes the user interface to ping submode.
The ping probe cannot be unconfigured while it is being used by the server farm or firewall farm.
You can configure more than one probe, in any combination of types (HTTP, ping, or WSP), for each server farm, or for each firewall in a firewall farm.
Examples
The following example configures an IOS SLB probe named PROBE1, then changes to ping probe configuration submode:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE1 ping
Router(config-slb-probe)#Related Commands
ip slb probe (WSP probe)
To configure a WSP probe name and to change to WSP probe configuration submode, use the ip slb probe (WSP probe) configuration command. To remove an ip slb probe configuration, use the no form of this command.
ip slb probe name wsp
no ip slb probe name
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(5a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
This command configures the WSP probe name and application protocol, and changes the user interface to WSP probe configuration submode.
The WSP probe cannot be unconfigured while it is being used by the server farm or firewall farm.
You can configure more than one probe, in any combination of types (HTTP, ping, or WSP), for each server farm, or for each firewall in a firewall farm.
Examples
The following example configures an IOS SLB probe named PROBE3, then changes to WSP probe configuration submode:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE3 wsp
Router(config-slb-probe)#Related Commands
ip slb serverfarm
To identify a server farm and initiate server farm configuration mode, use the ip slb serverfarm global configuration command. To remove the server farm from the IOS SLB configuration, use the no form of this command.
ip slb serverfarm serverfarm-name
no ip slb serverfarm serverfarm-name
Syntax Description
serverfarm-name
Character string used to identify the server farm. The character string is limited to 15 characters.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Grouping real servers into server farms is an essential part of IOS SLB. Using server farms enables IOS SLB to assign new connections to the real servers based on their weighted capacities, and on the load-balancing algorithms used.
Examples
The following example identifies a server farm named PUBLIC:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)#?Related Commands
Command DescriptionIdentifies a real server by IP address and optional port number as a member of a server farm and enters real server configuration mode.
ip slb vserver
To identify a virtual server and initiate virtual server configuration mode, use the ip slb vserver global configuration command. To remove a virtual server from the IOS SLB configuration, use the no form of this command.
ip slb vserver virtual_server-name
no ip slb vserver virtual_server-name
Syntax Description
virtual_server-name
Character string used to identify the virtual server. The character string is limited to 15 characters.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Examples
The following example identifies a virtual server named PUBLIC_HTTP:
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTP
Router(config-slb-vserver)#Related Commands
Command DescriptionAssociates a real server farm with a virtual server.
Displays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
maxconns (firewall farm TCP protocol)
To limit the number of active connections to the real server, use the maxconns firewall farm TCP protocol configuration command. To restore the default of no limit, use the no form of this command.
maxconns maximum-number
no maxconns
Syntax Description
maximum-number
Maximum number of simultaneous active TCP connections using the firewall farm. Valid values range from 1 to 4294967295. The default is 4294967295.
Defaults
Maximum_number default: 4294967295
Command Modes
Firewall farm TCP protocol configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example limits the real server to a maximum of 1000 simultaneous active connections:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# tcp
Router(config-slb-fw-tcp)# maxconns 1000
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Displays information about the real servers.
Enters TCP protocol configuration mode.
maxconns (firewall farm UDP protocol)
To limit the number of active connections to the real server, use the maxconns firewall farm UDP protocol configuration command. To restore the default of no limit, use the no form of this command.
maxconns maximum-number
no maxconns
Syntax Description
maximum-number
Maximum number of simultaneous active UDP connections using the firewall farm. Valid values range from 1 to 4294967295. The default is 4294967295.
Defaults
Maximum_number default: 4294967295
Command Modes
Firewall farm UDP protocol configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example limits the real server to a maximum of 1000 simultaneous active connections:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# udp
Router(config-slb-fw-udp)# maxconns 1000
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Displays information about the real servers.
Enters UDP protocol configuration mode.
maxconns (server farm)
To limit the number of active connections to the real server, use the maxconns real server configuration command. To restore the default of no limit, use the no form of this command.
maxconns maximum-number
no maxconns
Syntax Description
maximum-number
Maximum number of simultaneous active connections on the real server. Valid values range from 1 to 4294967295. The default is 4294967295.
Defaults
The default maximum number of simultaneous active connections on the real server is 4294967295.
Command Modes
Real server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
In GPRS load balancing, allow this command to default to 4294967295. The impact of this command is minimal because sessions are very short-lived.
Examples
The following example limits the real server to a maximum of 1000 simultaneous active connections:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.10.1.1
Router(config-slb-real)# maxconns 1000
Related Commands
mls ip slb search wildcard
To specify the behavior of IOS SLB wildcard searches, use the mls ip slb search wildcard global configuration command. To restore the default setting, use the no form of this command.
mls ip slb search wildcard [pfc | rp]
no mls ip slb search wildcard [pfc | rp]
Syntax Description
Defaults
The default setting is for the PFC to perform IOS SLB wildcard searches.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(7)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
This command is supported for Catalyst 6500 Family Switches only.
If you configure IOS SLB and either input ACLs or firewall load balancing on the same Catalyst 6500 Family Switch, you can exceed the capacity of the TCAM on the PFC. To correct the problem, use the mls ip slb search wildcard rp command to reduce the amount of TCAM space used by IOS SLB. However, be aware that this command can result in a slight increase in route processor utilization.
Examples
The following example limits wildcard searches to the route processor:
Router(config)# mls ip slb search wildcard rp
Related Commands
Command DescriptionIdentifies a firewall by IP address farm and enters firewall farm configuration mode.
Associates a real server farm with a virtual server.
Identifies a virtual server.
nat
To configure IOS SLB NAT and specify a NAT mode, use the nat server farm configuration command. To remove a NAT configuration, use the no form of this command.
nat {client pool-name | server}
no nat {client | server}
Syntax Description
client
Configures the client address in load-balanced packets using addresses from the client address pool.
pool-name
Configures the pool name and must match the pool-name parameter from a previous ip slb natpool command.
server
Configures the destination address in load-balanced packets sent to the real server as the address of the real server chosen by the server farm load-balancing algorithm.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Server farm configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The no nat command is allowed only if the virtual server was removed from service with the no inservice command.
In GPRS load balancing, NAT is not supported, therefore the nat command is not supported.
Examples
The following example changes to IOS SLB server farm configuration mode and configures NAT mode as server address translation on server farm FARM2:
Router# ip slb serverfarm FARM2
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# nat server
The following example configures the NAT mode on server farm FARM2 to client translation mode and, using the real (server farm) command, configures the real server IP address as 10.3.1.1:
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# nat client web-clients
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.3.1.1
Related Commands
port (HTTP probe)
To specify the port to which an HTTP probe is to connect, use the port (HTTP probe) HTTP probe configuration command. To restore the default settings, use the no form of this command.
port port-number
no port port-number
Syntax Description
Defaults
In dispatched mode, the port number is inherited from the virtual server.
If port translation is configured for the real server, that port number is used. See the real (server farm) command for more details.
Command Modes
HTTP probe configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example configures an HTTP probe named PROBE2, changes the CLI to IOS SLB HTTP probe submode, and configures the probe to connect to port number 8:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE2 http
Router(config-slb-probe)# port 8
Related Commands
predictor (server farm)
To specify the load-balancing algorithm for selecting a real server in the server farm, use the predictor server farm configuration command. To restore the default load-balancing algorithm of weighted round robin, use the no form of this command.
predictor [roundrobin | leastconns]
no predictor
Syntax Description
roundrobin
(Optional) Uses the weighted round robin algorithm for selecting the real server to handle the next new connection for the server farm. See the "Weighted Round Robin" section for a detailed description of this algorithm. This is the default value.
leastconns
(Optional) Uses the weighted least connections algorithm for selecting the real server to handle the next new connection for this server farm. See the "Weighted Least Connections" section for a detailed description of this algorithm.
Defaults
If you do not enter a predictor command, or if you enter the predictor command without specifying a load-balancing algorithm, the weighted round robin algorithm is used.
Command Modes
Server farm configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
GPRS load balancing requires the weighted round robin algorithm. A server farm that uses weighted least connections can be bound to a virtual server providing GPRS load balancing, but you cannot place the virtual server INSERVICE. If you try to do so, IOS SLB issues an error message.
Examples
The following example specifies the weighted least connections algorithm:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# predictor leastconns
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the server farm configuration.
Specifies the real server's capacity, relative to other real servers in the server farm.
predictor hash address (firewall farm)
To specify the load-balancing algorithm for selecting a firewall in the firewall farm, use the predictor hash address firewall farm configuration command. To restore the default load-balancing algorithm, use the no form of this command.
predictor hash address [port]
no predictor
Syntax Description
port
(Optional) Uses the source and destination TCP or UDP port numbers, in addition to the source and destination IP addresses, when selecting a firewall.
Defaults
Uses the source and destination IP addresses when selecting a firewall.
Command Modes
Firewall farm configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example specifies that source and destination IP addresses are to be used when selecting a firewall:
Router(config)# ip slb firewall FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# predictor hash address
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Specifies the firewall's capacity, relative to other firewalls in the firewall farm.
probe (firewall farm real server)
To associate a probe with a firewall farm, use the probe firewall farm real server configuration command. To remove the association, use the no form of this command.
probe name
no probe name
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Firewall farm real server configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
You can configure more than one probe for each firewall in a firewall farm.
If you configure probes in your network, you must also do one of the following:
•Configure the exclude keyword on the client command on the virtual server, to exclude connections initiated by the client IP address from the load-balancing scheme.
•Configure IP addresses on the IOS SLB device that are Layer 3-adjacent to the real servers used by the virtual server.
Examples
The following example associates probe DAWN with server farm FIRE1:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw-real)# probe DAWN
Related Commands
probe (server farm)
To associate a probe with a server farm, use the probe server farm configuration command. To remove the association, use the no form of this command.
probe name
no probe name
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Server farm configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
You can configure more than one probe for each server farm.
If you configure probes in your network, you must also do one of the following:
•Configure the exclude keyword on the client command on the virtual server, to exclude connections initiated by the client IP address from the load-balancing scheme.
•Configure IP addresses on the IOS SLB device that are Layer 3-adjacent to the real servers used by the virtual server.
Examples
The following example associates probe PROBE1 with server farm PUBLIC:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# probe PROBE1
Related Commands
real (firewall farm)
To identify a firewall as a member of a firewall farm and initiate real server configuration mode, use the real firewall farm configuration command. To remove the firewall from the IOS SLB configuration, use the no form of this command.
real ip-address
no real ip-address
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Firewall farm configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
A firewall farm comprises a number of firewalls. The firewalls are the physical devices that provide the firewall load-balanced services.
Examples
The following example identifies a firewall as a member of firewall farm FIRE1:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# real 10.1.1.1
Router(config-slb-real)#Related Commands
Command DescriptionEnables the firewall for use by IOS SLB.
Displays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Displays information about the real servers.
real (server farm)
To identify a real server as a member of a server farm and initiate real server configuration mode, use the real server farm configuration command. To remove the real server from the IOS SLB configuration, use the no form of this command.
real ip-address [port_number]
no real ip-address [port_number]
Syntax Description
ip-address
Real server IP address.
port_number
(Optional) Port translation for the server. Valid values range from 1 to 65535.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Server farm configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
A server farm comprises a number of real servers. The real servers are the physical devices that provide the load-balanced services.
In GPRS load balancing, this command identifies a GGSN that is a member of the server farm. Also, remember that the GGSN IP addresses are virtual template IP addresses, not real interface IP addresses.
Examples
The following example identifies a real server as a member of the server farm:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.1.1.1
Router(config-slb-real)#Related Commands
Command DescriptionEnables the real server for use by IOS SLB.
Displays information about the server farm configuration.
Displays information about the real servers.
reassign
To specify the threshold of consecutive unacknowledged synchronizations or Create PDP requests that, if exceeded, result in an attempted connection to a different real server, use the reassign real server configuration command. To restore the default reassignment threshold, use the no form of this command.
reassign threshold
no reassign
Syntax Description
threshold
Number of unacknowledged TCP SYNs (or Create PDP requests, in GPRS load balancing) that are directed to a real server before the connection is reassigned to a different real server. An unacknowledged SYN is one for which no SYN or ACK is detected before the next SYN arrives from the client. IOS SLB allows 30 seconds for the connection to be established or for a new SYN to be received. If neither of these occurs within that time, the connection is removed from the IOS SLB database.
The 30-second timer is restarted for each SYN as long as the number of connection reassignments specified on the faildetect (real server) command's numconns keyword is not exceeded. See the faildetect (real server) command for more information.
Valid threshold values range from 1 to 4 SYNs. The default value is 3.
Defaults
Threshold default: 3 SYNs
Command Modes
Real server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
IOS SLB does not reassign sticky connections if either of the following conditions is true:
•The real server is not OPERATIONAL or MAXCONNS_THROTTLED.
•The connection is the first for this sticky.
In GPRS load balancing, this command specifies the number of consecutive unacknowledged Create PDP requests (not TCP SYNs) that are directed to a GGSN before the connection is reassigned to a different GGSN. You must specify a reassign threshold less than the value specified on the gprs gtp n3-requests n3-requests command (or the equivalent command, if you are not using a Cisco SGSN):
threshold < n3-requests
Examples
The following example sets the threshold of unacknowledged SYNs to 2:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.10.1.1
Router(config-slb-real)# reassign 2
Related Commands
replicate casa (firewall farm)
To configure a stateful backup of IOS SLB decision tables to a backup switch, use the replicate casa firewall farm configuration command. To remove a replicate casa configuration, use the no form of this command.
replicate casa listening-ip remote-ip port-number [interval] [password [0 | 7] password [timeout]]
no replicate casa listening-ip remote-ip port-number
Syntax Description
Defaults
The interval default is 10 seconds.
The password encryption default is 0 (unencrypted).
The password timeout default is 180 seconds.
Command Modes
Firewall farm configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
The timeout option allows you to change the password without stopping messages between the backup and primary Layer 3 switches. The default value is 180 seconds.
During the timeout, the backup sends packets with the old password (or null, if there is no old password), and receives packets with either the old or new password. After the timeout expires, the backup sends and receives packets only with the new password.
When setting a new password timeout, keep the following in mind:
•If you are configuring a new backup, set the timeout to 0 (send packets with the new password immediately). This prevents password mismatches between the new backup and its primary.
•If you are changing the password for an existing backup, set a longer timeout. This allows enough time for you to update the password on the primary before the timeout expires. It also prevents mismatches between the backup and primary.
Examples
The following example configures a stateful backup Layer 3 switch with a listening IP address of 10.10.10.11, a remote IP address of 10.10.11.12, over HTTP port 4231:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# replicate casa 10.10.10.11 10.10.11.12 4231
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays the configuration of IOS SLB IP replication.
Displays information about the firewall farm configuration.
replicate casa (virtual server)
To configure a stateful backup of IOS SLB decision tables to a backup switch, use the replicate casa virtual server configuration command. To remove a replicate casa configuration, use the no form of this command.
replicate casa listening-ip remote-ip port-number [interval] [password [0 | 7] password [timeout]]
no replicate casa listening-ip remote-ip port-number
Syntax Description
Defaults
The interval default is 10 seconds.
The password encryption default is 0 (unencrypted).
The password timeout default is 180 seconds.
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.1(3a)E
The 0 and 7 keywords were added.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
The timeout option allows you to change the password without stopping messages between the backup and primary Layer 3 switches. The default value is 180 seconds.
During the timeout, the backup sends packets with the old password (or null, if there is no old password), and receives packets with either the old or new password. After the timeout expires, the backup sends and receives packets only with the new password.
When setting a new password timeout, keep the following in mind:
•If you are configuring a new backup, set the timeout to 0 (send packets with the new password immediately). This prevents password mismatches between the new backup and its primary.
•If you are changing the password for an existing backup, set a longer timeout. This allows enough time for you to update the password on the primary before the timeout expires. It also prevents mismatches between the backup and primary.
In GPRS load balancing, the replicate casa (virtual server) command is not supported.
Examples
The following example configures a stateful backup Layer 3 switch with a listening IP address of 10.10.10.11, a remote IP address of 10.10.11.12, over HTTP port 4231:
Router(config)# ip slb vserver VS1
Router(config-slb-vserver)# replicate casa 10.10.10.11 10.10.11.12 4231
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays the configuration of IOS SLB IP replication.
Displays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
request method, request url
To configure an HTTP probe to check the status of the real servers, use the request method or request url configuration command. To remove a request method or request url configuration, use the no form of this command.
request [method {get | post | head | name name}] [url path]
no request [method {get | post | head | name name}] [url path]
Syntax Description
Defaults
If no values are configured following the method keyword, the default is Get.
If no URL path is set to the server, the default is /.
Command Modes
HTTP IOS SLB probe configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
The request method/url command configures the IOS SLB HTTP probe method used to receive data from the server. Only one IOS SLB HTTP probe can be configured for each server farm.
Examples
The following example configures an IOS SLB HTTP probe named PROBE2, changes the CLI to IOS SLB probe submode, and configures HTTP requests to use the post method and the URL /probe.cgi?all:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE2 http
Router(config-slb-probe)# request method post url /probe.cgi?all
Related Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures the IOS SLB IP probe name.
Displays information about an IOS SLB probe.
retry
To specify how long to wait before a new connection is attempted to a failed server, use the retry real server configuration command. To restore the default retry value, use the no form of this command.
retry retry-value
no retry
Syntax Description
Defaults
The retry-value default is 60 seconds.
Command Modes
Real server configuration
Command History
Examples
The following example specifies that 120 seconds must elapse after the detection of a server failure before a new connection is attempted:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
Router(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.10.1.1
Router(config-slb-real)# retry 120
Related Commands
serverfarm
To associate a real server farm with a virtual server, or to configure a backup server farm, use the serverfarm virtual server configuration command. To remove the server farm association from the virtual server configuration, use the no form of this command.
serverfarm primary-serverfarm-name [backup backup-serverfarm-name [sticky]]
no serverfarm primary-serverfarm-name [backup backup-serverfarm-name [sticky]]
Syntax Description
Defaults
If backup backup-serverfarm-name is not specified, no backup server farm is configured.
If a backup server farm is configured but sticky is not specified, sticky connections are not used in the backup server farm.
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
In GPRS load balancing, the sticky keyword is not supported.
Examples
The following example shows how the ip slb vserver, virtual, and serverfarm commands are used to associate the real server farm named PUBLIC with the virtual server named PUBLIC_HTTP.
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTP
Router(config-slb-vserver)# virtual 10.0.0.1 tcp www
Router(config-slb-vserver)# serverfarm PUBLIC
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
Configures the virtual server attributes.
show ip slb conns
To display the active IOS SLB connections, use the show ip slb conns privileged EXEC command.
show ip slb conns [vserver virtual_server-name | client ip-address | firewall firewallfarm-name] [detail]
Syntax Description
Defaults
If no options are specified, the command displays output for all active IOS SLB connections.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Examples
The following example shows IOS SLB active connection data:
Router# show ip slb conns
vserver prot client real state----------------------------------------------------------------------------TEST TCP 7.150.72.183:328 80.80.90.25:80 INITTEST TCP 7.250.167.226:423 80.80.90.26:80 INITTEST TCP 7.234.60.239:317 80.80.90.26:80 ESTABTEST TCP 7.110.233.96:747 80.80.90.26:80 ESTABTEST TCP 7.162.0.201:770 80.80.90.30:80 CLOSINGTEST TCP 7.22.225.219:995 80.80.90.26:80 CLOSINGTEST TCP 7.2.170.148:169 80.80.90.30:80 ZOMBIE
show ip slb dfp
To display DFP manager and agent information, such as passwords, timeouts, retry counts, and weights, use the show ip slb dfp privileged EXEC command.
show ip slb dfp [agent agent_ip_address port-number | manager manager_ip_address | detail | weights]
Syntax Description
Defaults
If no options are specified, the command displays summary information.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The following example displays high-level information about all DFP agents and managers:
Router# show ip slb dfp
DFP Manager:Current passwd:NONE Pending passwd:NONEPasswd timeout:0 secAgent IP Port Timeout Retry Count Interval---------------------------------------------------------------161.44.2.34 61936 0 0 180 (Default)
The following example displays detailed information about DFP agents and managers:
Router# show ip slb dfp detail
DFP ManagerCurrent passwd <none> Pending passwd <none>Passwd timeout 0 secUnexpected errors 0% No DFP Agents configuredThe following example displays detailed information about DFP manager 55.55.55.2:
Router# show ip slb dfp manager 55.55.55.2
DFP Manager 55.55.55.2 Connection state ConnectedTimeout = 20Last message sent 033537 UTC 01/02/00The following example displays detailed information about weights assigned to real servers for load balancing:
Router# show ip slb dfp weights
Real IP Address 17.17.17.17 Protocol TCP Port 22 Bind_ID 111 Weight 111Set by Agent 161.44.2.3458490 at 132241 UTC 12/03/99Real IP Address 17.17.17.17 Protocol TCP Port www Bind_ID 1 Weight 1Set by Agent 161.44.2.3458490 at 132241 UTC 12/03/99Real IP Address 68.68.68.68 Protocol TCP Port www Bind_ID 4 Weight 4Set by Agent 161.44.2.3458490 at 132241 UTC 12/03/99Real IP Address 85.85.85.85 Protocol TCP Port www Bind_ID 5 Weight 5Set by Agent 161.44.2.3458490 at 132241 UTC 12/03/99show ip slb firewallfarm
To display firewall farm information, use the show ip slb firewallfarm configuration command.
show ip slb firewallfarm [detail]
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example shows firewall farm data:
Router# show ip slb firewallfarm
firewall farm hash state reals------------------------------------------------FIRE1 IPADDR OPERATIONAL 2
Table 3 show ip slb firewallfarm Field Descriptions
Field Descriptionfirewall farm
Name of the firewall farm.
hash
Load-balancing algorithm used to select a firewall for the firewall farm:
•IPADDR—Uses the source and destination IP addresses in the algorithm.
•IPADDRPORT—Uses the source and destination TCP or UDP port numbers, in addition to the source and destination IP addresses, in the algorithm.
See the predictor hash address (firewall farm) command for more details.
state
Current state of the firewall farm.
•OPERATIONAL—Functioning properly
•OUTOFSERVICE—Removed from the load-balancing predictor lists
•STANDBY—Backup firewall farm, ready to become operational if active firewall farm fails
reals
Number of firewalls that are members of the firewall farm.
show ip slb natpool
To display the IP IOS SLB NAT configuration, use the show ip slb natpool command.
show ip slb natpool [name pool-name] [detail]
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
EXEC configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example displays the default show ip slb natpool command:
Router# show ip slb natpool
nat client B 1.1.1.6 1.1.1.8 Netmask 255.255.255.0nat client A 1.1.1.1 1.1.1.5 Netmask 255.255.255.0The following example displays the show ip slb natpool command with the additional detail parameter:
Router# show ip slb natpool detail
nat client A 1.1.1.1 1.1.1.5 Netmask 255.255.255.0Start NAT Last NAT Count ALLOC/FREE-------------------------------------------------------1.1.1.1:11001 1.1.1.1:16333 0005333 ALLOC1.1.1.1:16334 1.1.1.1:19000 0002667 ALLOC1.1.1.1:19001 1.1.1.5:65535 0264675 FREEnat client B 1.1.1.6 1.1.1.8 Netmask 255.255.255.0Start NAT Last NAT Count ALLOC/FREE-------------------------------------------------------1.1.1.6:11001 1.1.1.6:16333 0005333 ALLOC1.1.1.6:16334 1.1.1.6:19000 0002667 ALLOC1.1.1.6:19001 1.1.1.8:65535 0155605 FREERelated Commands
show ip slb probe
To display information about an IOS SLB probe, use the show ip slb probe configuration command.
show ip slb probe [name probe_name] [detail]
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example shows IOS SLB probe data:
Router# show ip slb probe
Server:Port State Outages Current Cumulative----------------------------------------------------------------10.10.4.1:0 OPERATIONAL 0 never 00:00:0010.10.5.1:0 FAILED 1 00:00:06 00:00:06
Table 4 show ip slb probe Field Descriptions
Field DescriptionServer:Port
IP address and port of the real server.
State
Operational state of the probe:
•FAILED—The probe has succeeded in the past but has currently failed.
•OPERATIONAL—The probe is functioning normally.
•TESTING—The probe has never succeeded, due to no response. IOS SLB keeps no counters or timers for this state.
For a detailed listing of real server states, see the show ip slb reals command.
Outages
Number of intervals between successful probes.
Current
Time since the last probe success. That is, the duration (so far) of the current outage.
Cumulative
Total time the real server has been under test by the probe and has failed the probe test. This value is the sum of the Current time plus the total time of all previous outages.
show ip slb reals
To display information about the real servers, use the show ip slb reals privileged EXEC command.
show ip slb reals [vserver virtual_server-name] [detail]
Syntax Description
Defaults
If no options are specified, the command displays information about all real servers.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Examples
The following example shows IOS SLB real server data:
Router# show ip slb reals
real farm name weight state conns--------------------------------------------------------------------80.80.2.112 FRAG 8 OUTOFSERVICE 080.80.5.232 FRAG 8 OPERATIONAL 080.80.15.124 FRAG 8 OUTOFSERVICE 080.254.2.2 FRAG 8 OUTOFSERVICE 080.80.15.124 LINUX 8 OPERATIONAL 080.80.15.125 LINUX 8 OPERATIONAL 080.80.15.126 LINUX 8 OPERATIONAL 080.80.90.25 SRE 8 OPERATIONAL 22080.80.90.26 SRE 8 OPERATIONAL 21680.80.90.27 SRE 8 OPERATIONAL 21680.80.90.28 SRE 8 TESTING 180.80.90.29 SRE 8 OPERATIONAL 22180.80.90.30 SRE 8 OPERATIONAL 22480.80.30.3 TEST 100 READY_TO_TEST 080.80.30.4 TEST 100 READY_TO_TEST 080.80.30.5 TEST 100 READY_TO_TEST 080.80.30.6 TEST 100 READY_TO_TEST 0
Table 5 show ip slb reals Field Descriptions
Field Descriptionreal
IP address of the real server about which information is being displayed. Used to identify each real server. Information about each real server is displayed on a separate line.
farm name
Name of the server farm or firewall farm with which the real server is associated.
weight
Weight assigned to the real server. The weight identifies the real server's capacity, relative to other real servers in the server farm.
state
Current state of the real server.
•DFP_THROTTLED—The DFP agent sent a weight of 0 for this real server (send no further connections to this real server).
•FAILED—The real server has failed due as a result of either no response or RST responses to client traffic. (See the faildetect (real server) command for more information about controlling tolerance for no-responses and RSTs). The real server has been removed from use by the predictor algorithms. The retry timer has started.
•MAXCONNS_THROTTLE—The number of connections on the real server exceeds the configured maximum number of simultaneous active connections (maxconns).
•OPERATIONAL—The real server is functioning properly and is being used for load-balancing.
•OPER_WAIT—The real server is waiting to become operational (waiting for a timeout or some other condition to be met).
•OUTOFSERVICE—The real server was configured with no inservice and has been removed from the load-balancing predictor lists.
•PROBE_FAILED—The probe has succeeded in the past but has currently failed. This might occur at the same time user connections fail, or it might not.
•PROBE_TESTING—The probe has never succeeded, due to no response. The initial probe timed out waiting for a success.
•READY_TO_TEST—The real server is queued for testing after being in FAILED state until the retry timer expired.
•TESTING—The real server is queued for assignment. When a single user connection is assigned to a real server that is in READY_TO_TEST state, the real server is placed in TESTING state. If the test succeeds, the real server is placed back in OPERATIONAL state.
•TEST_WAIT—The real server is waiting to begin testing (waiting for a timeout or some other condition to be met).
conns
Number of connections (or sessions, in GPRS load balancing) associated with the real server.
show ip slb replicate
To display the IOS SLB replication configuration, use the show ip slb replicate privileged EXEC command.
show ip slb replicate
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Release Modification12.1(2)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example displays the IOS SLB replication configuration:
Router# show ip slb replicate VS1, local = 10.10.99.132 remote = 10.10.99.99 port = 1024 current password = none pending password = none password timeout = 180 sec (Default) unsent conn updates: 0 conn updates received: 32 conn updates transmitted: 471 update packets received: 12 update packets transmitted: 34 failovers: 0 Router#
Related Commands
show ip slb serverfarms
To display information about the server farms, use the show ip slb serverfarms privileged EXEC command.
show ip slb serverfarms [name serverfarm-name] [detail]
Syntax Description
name
(Optional) Displays information about only a particular server farm.
serverfarm-name
(Optional) Name of the server farm.
detail
(Optional) Displays detailed server farm information.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Examples
The following example shows IOS SLB server farm data:
Router# show ip slb serverfarms
server farm predictor reals bind id-------------------------------------------------FRAG ROUNDROBIN 4 0LINUX ROUNDROBIN 3 0SRE ROUNDROBIN 6 0TEST ROUNDROBIN 4 0
show ip slb stats
To display IOS SLB statistics, use the show ip slb stats privileged EXEC command.
show ip slb stats
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Examples
The following example shows IOS SLB statistics:
Router# show ip slb statsPkts via normal switching: 0Pkts via special switching: 12534087Connections Created: 12466960Connections Established: 12240100Connections Destroyed: 12466960Connections Reassigned: 0Zombie Count: 0Connections Reused: 0Connection Flowcache Purges: 0Failed Connection Allocs: 0Failed Real Assignments: 0Total indications: 0Unknown conn indications: 0SYNACK indications: 0RST client indications: 0RST server indications: 0Two FINs indications: 0Flow age indications: 0
show ip slb sticky
To display the IOS SLB sticky database, use the show ip slb sticky privileged EXEC command.
show ip slb sticky [client ip_address]
Syntax Description
client
(Optional) Displays only those sticky database entries associated with a particular client IP address or subnet.
ip-address
(Optional) IP address of the client.
Defaults
If no options are specified, the command displays information about all virtual servers or firewall farms.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Examples
The following example shows the IOS SLB sticky database:
Router# show ip slb sticky
client netmask group real conns-----------------------------------------------------------------------10.10.2.12 255.255.0.0 4097 10.10.3.2 1
show ip slb vserver
To display information about the virtual servers, use the show ip slb vserver privileged EXEC command.
show ip slb vserver [name virtual_server-name] [detail]
Syntax Description
name
(Optional) Displays information about only this virtual server.
virtual_server-name
(Optional) Name of the virtual server.
detail
(Optional) Displays detailed information.
Defaults
If no options are specified, the command displays information about all virtual servers.
Command Modes
Privileged EXEC
Command History
Examples
The following example shows virtual server data:
Router# show ip slb vserver
slb vserver prot virtual state conns---------------------------------------------------------------------TEST TCP 80.80.254.3:80 OPERATIONAL 1013TEST21 TCP 80.80.254.3:21 OUTOFSERVICE 0TEST23 TCP 80.80.254.3:23 OUTOFSERVICE 0
The following example shows detailed data for a virtual server with route health injection (advertise=TRUE):
Router# show ip slb vserver detailRH1, state = OPERATIONAL, v_index = 6virtual = 5.5.5.5/32:80, TCP, service = NONE, advertise = TRUEserver farm = RHSF, delay = 10, idle = 3600backup server farm = BACKUP, use count = 0, backup sticky = FALSEsticky timer = 0, sticky subnet = 255.255.255.255sticky group id = 0synguard counter = 0, synguard period = 0conns = 1, total conns = 31484, syns = 0, syn drops = 0standby group = None
sticky (firewall farm TCP protocol)
To assign all connections from a client to the same firewall, use the sticky firewall farm TCP protocol configuration command. To remove the client/server coupling use the no form of this command.
sticky duration [netmask netmask]
no sticky
Syntax Description
Defaults
Virtual servers are not associated with any groups.
Command Modes
Firewall farm TCP protocol configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example specifies that if a client's subsequent request for a firewall farm is made within 60 seconds of the previous request, then the same firewall is used for the connection:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# tcp
Router(config-slb-fw-tcp)# sticky 60
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Displays information about the IOS SLB database.
Enters TCP protocol configuration mode.
sticky (firewall farm UDP protocol)
To assign all connections from a client to the same firewall, use the sticky firewall farm UDP protocol configuration command. To remove the client/server coupling use the no form of this command.
sticky duration [netmask netmask]
no sticky
Syntax Description
Defaults
Virtual servers are not associated with any groups.
Command Modes
Firewall farm UDP protocol configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example specifies that if a client's subsequent request for a firewall farm is made within 60 seconds of the previous request, then the same firewall is used for the connection:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# udp
Router(config-slb-fw-udp)# sticky 60
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the firewall farm configuration.
Displays information about the IOS SLB database.
Enters UDP protocol configuration mode.
sticky (virtual server)
To assign all connections from a client to the same real server, use the sticky virtual server configuration command. To remove the client/server coupling use the no form of this command.
sticky duration [group group-id] [netmask netmask]
no sticky
Syntax Description
Defaults
Sticky connections are not tracked.
Virtual servers are not associated with any groups.
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The last real server that was used for a connection from a client is stored for the set duration seconds. If a new connection from the client to the virtual server is initiated during that time, the same real server that was used for the previous connection is chosen for the new connection. If two virtual servers are placed in the same group, coincident connection requests for those services from the same IP address are handled by the same real server.
In GPRS load balancing, the sticky command is not supported.
Examples
The following example specifies that if a client's subsequent request for a virtual server is made within 60 seconds of the previous request, then the same real server is used for the connection. This example also places the virtual server in group 10.
Router(config)# ip slb vserver VS1
Router(config-slb-vserver)# sticky 60 group 10
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the IOS SLB database.
Displays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
Configures the virtual server attributes.
synguard (virtual server)
To limit the rate of TCP SYNs handled by a virtual server to prevent a SYN flood denial-of-service attack, use the synguard virtual server configuration command. To remove the threshold, use the no form of this command.
synguard syn-count [interval]
no synguard
Syntax Description
Defaults
Syn-count default: 0 (off)
Interval default: 100 ms
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
In GPRS load balancing, the synguard command has no meaning.
Examples
The following example sets the threshold of unacknowledged SYNs to 50:
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTP
Router(config-slb-vserver)# synguard 50
Related Commands
Command DescriptionDisplays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
Configures the virtual server attributes.
tcp
To initiate TCP protocol configuration mode, use the tcp firewall farm configuration command.
tcp
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Firewall farm configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
There is not a no form of this command.
Examples
The following example initiates TCP protocol configuration mode:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# tcp
Router(config-slb-fw-tcp)# exitRelated Commands
udp
To initiate UDP protocol configuration mode, use the udp firewall farm configuration command.
udp
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Firewall farm configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Usage Guidelines
There is not a no form of this command.
Examples
The following example initiates UDP protocol configuration mode:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
Router(config-slb-fw)# udp
Router(config-slb-fw-udp)# exitRelated Commands
url (WSP probe)
To specify the URL path that a WSP probe is to request from the server, use the url WSP probe configuration command. To restore the default settings, use the no form of this command.
url [path]
no url [path]
Syntax Description
Defaults
If no URL path is specified, the default is /.
Command Modes
WSP probe configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(5a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example configures a ping probe named PROBE3, changes the CLI to IOS SLB WSP probe submode, and configures the probe to request URL path http://localhost/test.txt:
Router(config)# ip slb probe PROBE3 wsp
Router(config-slb-probe)# url http://localhost/test.txtRelated Commands
Command DescriptionConfigures a WSP probe name and changes to WSP probe configuration submode.
Displays information about an IOS SLB probe.
virtual (virtual server)
To configure virtual server attributes, use the virtual virtual server configuration command. To remove the attributes, use the no form of this command.
virtual ip-address [network-mask] {tcp | udp} [port-number | wsp | wsp-wtp | wsp-wtls | wsp-wtp-wtls] [service service-name]
no virtual
Syntax Description
Defaults
No default behavior or values.
Command Modes
Virtual server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The no virtual command is allowed only if the virtual server was removed from service by the no inservice command.
For some applications, it is not feasible to configure all the virtual server TCP or UDP port numbers for IOS SLB. To support such applications, you can configure IOS SLB virtual servers to accept flows destined for all ports (except GTP ports). To configure an all-port virtual server, specify a port number of 0.
On Catalyst 6500 Family Switches, if you use FTP sessions with MNLB you must configure a port-bound virtual server bound to port 21 on the MNLB Services Manager (the LocalDirector).
Note In general, you should use port-bound virtual servers instead of all-port virtual servers. When you use all-port virtual servers, flows can be passed to servers for which no application port exists. When servers reject these flows, IOS SLB might fail the server and remove it from load balancing.
Examples
The following example specifies that the virtual server with the IP address 10.0.0.1 performs load balancing for TCP connections for the port named www. The virtual server processes HTTP requests.
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTP
Router(config-slb-vserver)# virtual 10.0.0.1 tcp www
The following example specifies that the virtual server with the IP address 10.0.0.13 performs load balancing for UDP connections for all ports. The virtual server processes HTTP requests.
Router(config)# ip slb vserver PUBLIC_HTTP
Router(config-slb-vserver)# virtual 10.0.0.13 udp 0
Related Commands
Command DescriptionIdentifies a virtual server.
Displays information about the virtual servers defined to IOS SLB.
weight (firewall farm real server)
To specify a real server's capacity, relative to other real servers in the firewall farm, use the weight firewall farm real server configuration command. To restore the default weight value, use the no form of this command.
weight weighting-value
no weight
Syntax Description
weighting-value
Weighting value to use for real server predictor algorithm. Valid values range from 1 to 255. The default weighting value is 8.
Defaults
Weighting-value default: 8
Command Modes
Firewall farm real server configuration
Command History
Release Modification12.1(3a)E
This command was introduced.
12.2 S
This command was integrated into Cisco IOS Release 12.2 S.
Examples
The following example specifies the relative weighting values of three real servers as 16, 8 (by default), and 24, respectively:
Router(config)# ip slb firewallfarm FIRE1
!-----First real serverRouter(config-slb-fw)# real 10.10.1.1
!-----Assigned weight of 16Router(config-slb-fw-real)# weight 16
!-----EnabledRouter(config-slb-fw-real)# inservice
Router(config-slb-fw-real)# exit
!-----Second real serverRouter(config-slb-fw)# real 10.10.1.2
!-----Enabled with default weightRouter(config-slb-fw-real)# inservice
Router(config-slb-fw-real)# exit
!-----Third real serverRouter(config-slb-fw)# real 10.10.1.3
!-----Assigned weight of 24, not enabledRouter(config-slb-fw-real)# weight 24
Related Commands
weight (server farm)
To specify a real server's capacity, relative to other real servers in the server farm, use the weight real server configuration command. To restore the default weight value, use the no form of this command.
weight weighting-value
no weight
Syntax Description
weighting-value
Weighting value to use for real server predictor algorithm. Valid values range from 1 to 255. The default weighting value is 8.
Defaults
Weighting-value default: 8
Command Modes
Real server configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The static weights you define using this command are overridden by the weights calculated by DFP. If DFP is removed from the network, IOS SLB reverts to these static weights.
Examples
The following example specifies the relative weighting values of three real servers as 16, 8 (by default), and 24, respectively:
Router(config)# ip slb serverfarm PUBLIC
!-----First real serverRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.10.1.1
!-----Assigned weight of 16Router(config-slb-real)# weight 16
!-----EnabledRouter(config-slb-real)# inservice
Router(config-slb-real)# exit
!-----Second real serverRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.10.1.2
!-----Enabled with default weightRouter(config-slb-real)# inservice
Router(config-slb-real)# exit
!-----Third real serverRouter(config-slb-sfarm)# real 10.10.1.3
!-----Assigned weight of 24, not enabledRouter(config-slb-real)# weight 24
Related Commands
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The following questions and answers can help you troubleshoot IOS SLB, if you have problems.
Question AnswerCan I use IOS SLB to load balance clients and real servers that are on the same LAN or VLAN?
NO!
IOS SLB does not support load balancing of flows between clients and real servers that are on the same LAN or VLAN. The packets being load balanced cannot enter and leave the load-balancing device on the same interface.
Why is IOS SLB not marking my connections as ESTABLISHED even though I'm transferring data?
If you are using dispatched mode, make sure there are no alternate paths that allow outbound flows to bypass IOS SLB. Also, make sure the clients and real servers are not on the same IP subnet.
Why am I able to connect to real servers directly, but unable to connect to the virtual server?
Make sure that the virtual IP address is configured as a loopback in each of the real servers (if you are running in dispatched mode).
Why is IOS SLB not marking my real server as failed when I disconnect it from the network?
Tune the values for the numclients, numconns, and delay keywords.
If you have a very small client population (for example, in a test environment), the numclients keyword could be causing the problem. This parameter prevents IOS SLB from mistaking the failure of a small number of clients for the failure of a real server.
Why does IOS SLB show my real server as INSERVICE even though I have taken it down or physically disconnected it?
The INSERVICE and OUTOFSERVICE states indicate whether the network administrator intends for that real server to be used when it is operational. A real server that was INSERVICE but was removed from the selection list dynamically by IOS SLB as a result of automatic failure detection, is marked as FAILED. Use the show ip slb reals detail command to display these real server states.
Beginning with release 12.1(1)E, INSERVICE is changed to OPERATIONAL, to better reflect what is actually occurring.
Why is IOS SLB not balancing correctly? I am using dispatched mode, the servers are leaving sockets open, and I am seeing RSTs in response to a number of SYNs. Curiously, sometimes things work fine.
Enter the show mls flow command:
Router# sh mls flowcurrent ip flowmask for unicast: full flowcurrent ipx flowmask for unicast: destination onlyThe current IP flowmask must be full flow. If it is not, correct the problem using the mls flow ip full command:
Router# config tEnter configuration commands, one per line.End with CNTL/Z.Router(config)# mls flow ip fullRouter(config)#How can I verify that IOS SLB sticky connections are working properly?
Use the following procedure:
1. Configure the sticky connections.
2. Start a client connection.
3. Enter the show ip slb reals detail and show ip slb conns commands.
4. Examine the real server connection counts. The real server whose count increased is the one to which the client connection is assigned.
5. Enter the show ip slb sticky command to display the sticky relationships that IOS SLB stored.
6. End the connection.
7. Ensure that the real server's connection count decreased.
8. Restart the connection, after waiting no longer than the sticky timeout value.
9. Enter the show ip slb conns command again.
10. Examine the real server connection counts again, and verify that the sticky connection is assigned to the same real server as before.
How can I verify that server failures are being detected correctly?
Use the following procedure:
1. Use a large client population. If the number of clients is very small, tune the numclients keyword on the faildetect (real server) command so that the servers are not displayed as FAILED.
2. Enter the show ip slb reals detail command to show the status of the real servers.
3. Examine the status and connection counts of the real servers.
–Servers that failed show a status of FAILED, TESTING, or READY_T0_TEST, based on whether IOS SLB is checking that the server came back up when the command was sent.
–When a real server fails, connections that are assigned but not established (no SYN or ACK is received) are reassigned to another real server on the first inbound SYN after the reassign threshold is met. However, any connections that were already established are forwarded to the same real server because, while it might not be accepting new connections, it might be servicing existing ones.
–For weighted least connections, a real server that has just been placed in service starts slowly so that it is not overloaded with new connections. (See the "Slow Start" section for more information.) Therefore, the connection counts displayed for a new real server show connections going to other real servers (despite the new real server's lower count). The connection counts also show "dummy connections" to the new real server, which IOS SLB uses to artificially inflate the connection counts for the real server during the slow start period.
Does the no inservice command take a resource out of service immediately?
When you use the no form of the inservice command to remove a firewall, firewall farm, real server, or virtual server from service, the resource quiesces gracefully. No new connections are assigned, and existing connections are allowed to complete.
To stop all existing connections for an entire firewall farm or virtual server immediately, use the clear ip slb command.
I configured both IOS SLB and input ACLs on the same Catalyst 6500 Family Switch, and now I see TCAM Capacity Exceeded messages. Why?
If you configure IOS SLB and either input ACLs or firewall load balancing on the same Catalyst 6500 Family Switch, you can exceed the capacity of the TCAM on the Policy Feature Card (PFC). To correct the problem, use the mls ip slb search wildcard rp command to reduce the amount of TCAM space used by IOS SLB, but be aware that this command can result in a slight increase in route processor utilization.
Glossary
active standby—Redundancy scheme in which two IOS SLB devices can load-balance the same virtual IP address while at the same time acting as backups for each other. See also active standby, stateful backup.
bearer network—Network that carries messages of a transport-layer protocol, and ultimately also of the session-layer protocols, between physical devices. A single session can use more than one bearer network.
CASA—Content Aware Services Architecture. CASA is a protocol designed to allow network appliances to selectively control the flow of IP packets through a router, switch, or other network device.
client NAT—Translation scheme in which the client IP address is replaced with an IP address associated with one of a group of load-balancing devices, resulting in outbound flows being routed to the correct device. See also directed mode, server NAT.
client subsystem—Users, such as IOS SLB or GPRS, of the DFP agent function.
cluster—Set of computer systems that are connected through multisystem hardware or software to supply services traditionally provided by a single system. This arrangement provides higher availability and better scalability of the system.
content-aware networking—Networking strategy that enables content to be dynamically distributed. Because content can be dynamically cached, it can be located at any given place at any given time and distributed between the servers and the location of the webcache. Cisco has developed the ContentFlow architecture and the DFP to enable networks to provide content-aware networking services.
ContentFlow architecture—Cisco's content-aware networking architecture that describes message flows and actions in a distributed environment.
DFP—Dynamic Feedback Protocol. Allows host agents 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.
DFP agent—Object in a load-balanced environment that dynamically reports changes 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. See also DFP manager.
DFP manager—Object in a load-balanced environment that collects status reports from DFP agents. See also DFP agent.
directed mode—Session redirection mode in which the virtual server can be assigned an IP address that is not known to any of the real servers. IOS SLB translates packets exchanged between a client and real server, translating the virtual server IP address to a real server IP address through NAT. See also dispatched mode, NAT.
dispatched mode—Session redirection mode in which the virtual server address is known to the real servers. The virtual server IP address must be configured as a loopback address, or secondary IP address, on each of the real servers. IOS SLB redirects packets to the real servers at the media access control (MAC) layer. Since the virtual server IP address is not modified in dispatched mode, the real servers must be Layer 2-adjacent to IOS SLB, or intervening routers might not be able to route to the chosen real server. See also directed mode.
Dynamic Feedback Protocol—See DFP.
firewall—Router or access server, or several routers or access servers, designated as a buffer between any connected public networks and a private network. A firewall router uses access lists and other methods to ensure the security of the private network.
firewall farm—Group of firewalls.
firewall load balancing—Load-balancing scheme in which the network administrator configures a group of firewalls into a firewall farm. When a client initiates a connection, IOS SLB chooses a firewall for the connection based on a hash algorithm.
General Packet Radio Service—See GPRS.
GPRS Tunneling Protocol—See GTP.
gateway GPRS support node—See GGSN.
Global System for Mobile Communications—See GSM.
GGSN—Gateway GPRS Support Node. A GPRS network entity that serves as the mobile wireless gateway between an SGSN and PDNs. The GGSN allows mobile wireless users to access PDNs. See also GPRS, GSM, GTP, SGSN.
GPRS—General Packet Radio Service. An ETSI standard that defines the implementation of packet data services on a GSM network. See also GGSN, GSM, GTP, SGSN.
GSM—Global System for Mobile Communications. A second-generation (2G) mobile wireless networking standard defined by ETSI and deployed widely throughout the world. See also GGSN, GPRS, GTP, SGSN.
GTP—GPRS Tunneling Protocol. Protocol that handles the flow of user packet data and signaling information between the SGSN and GGSN in a GPRS network. GTP is defined on both the Gn and Gp interfaces of a GPRS network. See also GGSN, GPRS, GSM, SGSN.
HSRP—Hot Standby Router Protocol. Provides high network availability and transparent network topology changes. HSRP creates a Hot Standby router group with a lead router that services all packets sent to the Hot Standby address. The lead router is monitored by other routers in the group, and if it fails, one of these standby routers inherits the lead position and the Hot Standby group address. See also redundancy, stateful backup, stateless backup.
HTTP redirect load balancing—Load-balancing scheme in which all HTTP requests that belong to the same transaction are directed to the same real server.
IOS SLB—IOS Server Load Balancing. Load-balancing function in which the network administrator defines a virtual server that represents a group of real servers in a cluster of network servers known as a server farm. When a client initiates a connection to the virtual server, IOS SLB chooses a real server for the connection based on a configured load-balancing algorithm.
load balancing—Spreading user requests among available servers within a cluster of servers, based on a variety of algorithms.
MD5—Message Digest Algorithm Version 5. Neighbor router authentication scheme used to ensure reliability and security when routing updates are exchanged between neighbor routers.
Message Digest Algorithm Version 5—See MD5.
NAT—Network Address Translation. Modification of one or more of the following fields in an IP packet: source IP address, destination IP address, source TCP/UDP port, destination TCP/UDP port. See also client NAT, server NAT.
NetFlow switching—High-performance network-layer switching path that captures as part of its switching function a rich set of traffic statistics including user, protocol, port, and type of service information.
Network Address Translation—See NAT.
packet data protocol—See PDP.
PDP—Packet data protocol. Network protocol used by external packet data networks that communicate with a GPRS network. IP is an example of a PDP supported by GPRS.
port-bound—Server configuration scheme in which a virtual server IP address represents 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.
real server—The specification of a physical server associated with a virtual server. The specification includes the real server's IP address and an optional weight to be used by the virtual server predictor.
redundancy—The duplication of devices, services, or connections so that, in the event of a failure, the redundant devices, services, or connections can perform the work of those that failed. See also stateful backup, stateless backup.
round robin—See weighted round robin.
Secure Socket Layer—See SSL.
server cluster—See server farm.
server farm—Also called a server cluster. Group of real servers that provide various applications and services.
Server Load Balancing—See IOS SLB.
server NAT—Translation scheme in which the virtual server IP address is replaced with the real server IP address (and vice versa), allowing servers to be many hops away from the load-balancing device, and enabling intervening routers to route to them without requiring tunnelling. See also client NAT, directed mode, server port translation.
server port translation—Translation scheme in which the virtual server port number is replaced with the real server port number (and vice versa), allowing servers to be many hops away from the load-balancing device, and enabling intervening routers to route to them without requiring tunnelling. See also client NAT, directed mode, server NAT.
services manager—Functionality built into IOS SLB that makes load-balancing decisions based on application availability, server capacity, and load distribution algorithms such as weighted round robin or weighted least connections, or the DFP. The services manager determines a real server for the packet flow using load balancing and server/application feedback.
serving GPRS support node—See SGSN.
SGSN—serving GPRS support node. A GPRS network entity that sends data to and receives data from mobile stations, and maintains information about the location of a mobile station. The SGSN communicates between the mobile station and the GGSN; the GGSN provides access to the data network. See also GGSN, GPRS, GSM, GTP.
SLB—See IOS SLB.
SSL—Secure Socket Layer. Encryption technology for the web used to provide secure transactions such as the transmission of credit card numbers for e-commerce.
stateful backup—Redundancy scheme that enables IOS SLB to incrementally backup its load-balancing decisions, or "keep state," between primary and backup switches. See also active standby, stateless backup.
stateless backup—Redundancy scheme that provides high network availability by routing IP flows from hosts on Ethernet networks without relying on the availability of a single Layer 3 switch. See also active standby, stateful backup.
sticky connections—Load-balancing scheme in which 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.
virtual server—Presents a single address that represents an application server farm to clients.
WAP—Wireless Application Protocol. Suite of protocols used to deliver services to wireless devices.
weighted least connection—Load-balancing algorithm in which the next real server chosen for a new connection to the virtual server is the server with the fewest active connections. 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. 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...).
weighted round robin—Load-balancing algorithm in which the real server used for a new connection to the virtual server is chosen 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. New connections are assigned to a given real server n times before the next real server in the list is chosen.
Wireless Application Protocol—See WAP.
Wireless Session Protocol—See WSP.
Wireless Transaction Protocol—See WTP.
Wireless Transport Security Layer—See WTLS.
workload agents—Value-added software components developed for specific platforms by third-party developers. Workload agents run on server platforms or on platforms that manage server farms. Workload agents deliver server and application information to the services manager. This information enables the services manager to make optimum server selection.
WSP—Wireless Session Protocol. Session-layer protocol of the WAP suite.
WTLS—Wireless Transport Security Layer. Layer that provides security between WAP clients and WAP gateways.
WTP—Wireless Transaction Protocol. Transaction-layer protocol of the WAP suite.