3 Advanced Features : Client Load Balancing

Client Load Balancing
Client load balancing helps distribute new connections in your environment so that no one server is overwhelmed with connection requests. When client load balancing is enabled, the first connection attempt establishes the random order in which primary and alternate databases are tried. Subsequent connection attempts use the same sequence.
For example, suppose that client load balancing is enabled as shown in Figure 3-2.
Figure 3-2. Client Load Balancing ExampleThe application can connect to three database servers. Client load balancing is enabled, and the application first tries to connect to Database Server B, then Database Server C, and then Database Server A.
 
First, Database Server B is tried (1). Then, Database Server C may be tried (2), followed by a connection attempt to Database Server A (3); subsequent connection attempts use this same sequence. In contrast, if client load balancing was not enabled in this scenario, each database would be tried in sequential order, primary server first, then alternate servers based on their entry order in the alternate servers list.
For details on configuring client load balancing for your data provider, see the appropriate data provider chapter.