Okay, so at my company we currently have a server cluster overseas.

We're looking to have a co-location locally (NC, USA).

This cluster of five servers has load balancing equipment already in place (place.com routes to any one of the five servers).

What recommendations does everybody have to perform this load balancing between local servers and overseas servers. We of course want the shortest response time to the customer but we can't change the address seen by a customer (function calls are made to call.place.com).

Also, we have a very specific function call on our servers, it is still placed to call.place.com but requires the data be in the US. Is it possible to have the server inspect the packet slightly and bounce all traffic requiring this additional data to the US?

I know this is hazy, but I can't release too much information, nor do I know how to express of topology well.

7/13/2007 1:34:59 PM

hire me and i'll take care of it with full documentation.

7/13/2007 1:36:45 PM

Seotaji that's a good idea, except I need to have an idea of what's going on before I speak with some engineers.

I want to make sure I'm not asking for the moon here.

7/13/2007 1:50:16 PM

what about a layer 2 vpn, such as EoMPLS?

Can describe the actual problem you are facing? Is this something you have already set up, or are you just in the design stage or what? I guess I am struggling to see where the holdup is at currently.

7/13/2007 10:13:16 PM

You'll probably find that utilizing dns as your best means of load balancing. It requires a good bit of knob tweaking as you scale, but that doesn't sound like a problem in your case.

Have a look at
http://dev.robertmao.com/2007/06/30/global-dns-load-balancing-for-free/
http://wiki.blitzed.org/DNS_balancing

7/13/2007 11:37:58 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Load_balancing_(computing)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gslb
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc/pd/cxsr/ps4163/prodlit/bcgsl_wp.htm
http://www.tenereillo.com/GSLBPageOfShame.htm

sounds like you are looking for global server load balancing, to do load balancing based on location

as for the "function calls" i don't know, network hacks don't sound like the best ways to handle application design issues...but im not sure i understand the situation entirely...this sounds like an application design issue

let us know what you decide pls

7/13/2007 11:42:03 PM

i agree with cdubya

dns sounds like the way to go here
if you go with packet inspection, you're gonna slow queries way the fuck down

7/13/2007 11:54:03 PM

As for your function call question, I think that dpi is overthinking the problem. When calling that particular function, simply utilize a different destination IP, port #, (or whatever is easiest) for traffic that is specifically bound for your US DCers.

gluck!

7/14/2007 12:04:59 AM