Holodeck: NSX Load Balancing

Module 3: Load Balancing

This module will add a Load Balancer for HTTP traffic

Lab 1: Configure load balancer

This lab will configure an L3-L7 load balancer on the NSX Tier-1 Router created in a Module 1.

Step 1: Configure OC-T1 to run on an Edge Cluster

To support stateful services, such as Layer 3-7 Firewall we need to configure OC-T1 as a Services Router (SR). This simply means associating OC-T1 with our existing NSX Edge cluster in management domain

  1. Open a new tab in the Chrome browser
  2. Click the Management NSX-T shortcut in the bookmark bar (click advanced / proceed to nsx-mgmt.vcf.sddc.lab, if required to accept the certificate)
  3. Log into NSX Manager as user: admin with the password: VMware123!VMware123!
  4. Navigate to Networking then click on Tier-1 Gateways
  5. Click the 3 dots next to OC-T1 and select edit
  6. Click on Select Edge Cluster and select EC-01

  1. Click Save
  2. Click Close Editing

Step 2: Create Server Pool

A server pool is a set of servers that can share the same content.

  1. In NSX Manager, navigate to Networking and click on Load Balancing
  2. The click on the Server Pools tab and click Add Server Pool
  3. Name the pool OC-LB-Pool

  1. Click Select Members
  2. Click Add Member
  3. Name OC-Apache-A, IP 10.1.1.18 Port 80

  1. Click Save  
  2. Repeat steps for OC-Apache-B, using:  Name OC-Apache-B, IP 10.1.1.19 Port 80

 

  1. If your lab is configured with OC-Apache-C, add it using Name OC-Apache-C, IP 10.1.1.20 Port 80
  2. Click Apply
  3. Click Set next to Active Monitor

  1. Select the default HTTP Port 80 monitor, then click Apply

  1. Click Apply
  2. Notice the active monitor shown
  3. Click Save

Step 3: Create Load Balancer

  1. Navigate to Networking and click Load Balancing
  2. Click Add Load Balancer
  3. Name the Load Balancer OC-LB. On Attachment select OC-T1

  1. Click Save
  2. When prompted Want to continue configuring this Load Balancer, select No

Step 4: Create Virtual Servers

A Virtual Server is an IP address that acts as the front end for a Server Pool

  1. Navigate to Networking and click on Load Balancing
  2. Click the Virtual Servers tab and then Add Virtual Server, L7 HTTP

  1. Name the Virtual Server OC-VIP, IP Address 10.1.1.2, Port 80
  2. Type OC in the Load Balancer field and it will allow you to select OC-LB
  3. Type OC in the Server Pool field and select OC-LB-Pool
  4. Click on SAVE

Graphical user interface, text, application, email Description automatically generated

Step 5: Test Load Balancer

  1. Open a new tab for 10.1.1.2

A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated with low confidence

 

  1. Refresh the browser for this tab. You should see the opposite web server

A picture containing text, screenshot, indoor Description automatically generated

  1. Open a PuTTY session to OC-Apache-A, login ocuser, password VMware123!
  2. Run the command sudo systemctl stop apache2

 

A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated

  1. Wait approximately 30 seconds
  2. Refresh the browser for the 10.1.1.2 tab several times in a row. You should see the OC-Apache-B web page only, as the Active Monitor would detect the failure of OC-Apache-A quickly

A picture containing text, screenshot, indoor Description automatically generated

  1. Return to the OC-Apache-A PUTTY session and run the command sudo systemctl start apache2
  2. Wait approx. 30 seconds
  3. Refresh the browser for the 10.1.1.2 tab several times in a row. You should see both OC-Apache-A and OC-Apache-B web pages, as the Active Monitor would detect the return of OC-Apache-A quickly

 

[Lab 1 Summary]
Lab  1 shows how quickly a load balancer can be instantiated on the NSX Tier-1 router

<END OF DOC>

 




 

Filter Tags

Document