asked on Web server failover using dns
I currently have two web servers. Each located on different ISP.
Seeing how DNS round robin only provides load balancing and not redundancy,
I wanted to go with another option. I found this article from ‘wight-hat.com ‘that suggested
to put the put the DNS service on each web server. And modify the name servers on the
original DNS server. Name Server 1 will point to Web server 1 and Name Server 2 will point
to Web Server 2. In this Case if the DNS is unable to reach it’s Name Server 1
“Also the Web Server 1” then it will try to contact the Name Server 2 “Also Web Server 2”.
All hosts (A records) will supply the correct IP address to contact the available web server.
Is this a viable option?
What are the pro and cons to doing this?
The article can be found here
http://www.wight-hat.com/guides/hosting6.html
PS Web server runs on Windows 2003 IIS 7.0
Thanks in advance
Keith
Seeing how DNS round robin only provides load balancing and not redundancy,
I wanted to go with another option. I found this article from ‘wight-hat.com ‘that suggested
to put the put the DNS service on each web server. And modify the name servers on the
original DNS server. Name Server 1 will point to Web server 1 and Name Server 2 will point
to Web Server 2. In this Case if the DNS is unable to reach it’s Name Server 1
“Also the Web Server 1” then it will try to contact the Name Server 2 “Also Web Server 2”.
All hosts (A records) will supply the correct IP address to contact the available web server.
Is this a viable option?
What are the pro and cons to doing this?
The article can be found here
http://www.wight-hat.com/guides/hosting6.html
PS Web server runs on Windows 2003 IIS 7.0
Thanks in advance
Keith
DNS
Last Comment
kwolbert_IT
ASKER
Thanks for the reply
But I am not really concerned with the load and the scalability.
Just the available of the servers.
This is really just a Hot Site.
Thanks
Keith
But I am not really concerned with the load and the scalability.
Just the available of the servers.
This is really just a Hot Site.
Thanks
Keith
Well, I still stand by my solution; I would not offer any other solution besides a dedicated device that is designed for load balancing. Basically what they are doing is by passing what a dedicated load balancer is designed to do and also lowering the cost. You should always consider scalability in our design, I just would not have it any other way.
Good luck to you
Billy
Good luck to you
Billy
ASKER
But no load balance is required in this design for this is a Hot site, which sould only be used when the other is not available and adding a load balancing device is another point of failure
As always
Thanks for the reply
As always
Thanks for the reply
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ASKER
Only wanted to do it his way didnt want to try to help me in the way I asked
>Only wanted to do it his way didnt want to try to help me in the way I asked
Funny, you did ask: "What are the pro and cons to doing this?"
I gave you the pros and cons:
"efficient and scalable load balanced environment, then you need s system specifically designed for that. The method they use still imposes delay due to the necessary re-query."
Billy
Funny, you did ask: "What are the pro and cons to doing this?"
I gave you the pros and cons:
"efficient and scalable load balanced environment, then you need s system specifically designed for that. The method they use still imposes delay due to the necessary re-query."
Billy
ASKER
You right about the way I worded the question. How I should have asked was “Would this work”.
I understand what you described and how it would work. The problem that there is no more budget for this project. I appreciate you taking the time you try to help me on this subject.
Thanks
Keith
I understand what you described and how it would work. The problem that there is no more budget for this project. I appreciate you taking the time you try to help me on this subject.
Thanks
Keith
DNS Global Load Balancing is a great method; however, the method they use: http://www.wight-hat.com/guides/hosting6.html
I would not recommend(I would not use their method in my environment!); you need a solution that contains healthchecks for the servers; if you want a reliable, efficient and scalable load balanced environment, then you need s system specifically designed for that. The method they use still imposes delay due to the necessary re-query.
Some Vendors that offer DNS Global load balancing:
http://www.f5.com/products/big-ip/product-modules/global-traffic-manager.html
http://www.brocade.com/forms/getFile?p=documents/data_sheets/product_data_sheets/serverIronADX_DS_05.pdf
http://www.radware.com/Resources/dns_load_balancing.aspx
Billy