Global Server Load Balancing in the Azure Ecosystem
What is GSLB? Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB) is the practice of distributing user traffic across multiple regions or data centers. Unlike local load balancers that only manage traffic within a region, GSLB handles global routing, ensuring: Low latency – users are directed to the nearest endpoint. High availability – automatic failover if one region becomes unavailable. Disaster recovery – support for active-active or active-passive architectures. Geo-compliance – traffic can be routed based on geographic or regulatory requirements. GSLB in the Azure Ecosystem Azure provides multiple services to implement both regional load balancing and global server load balancing . Understanding their roles is key to designing a resilient and scalable cloud architecture. 1. Local Load Balancing (Regional) Azure Load Balancer (L4): Handles TCP/UDP traffic distribution within a region. Best for non-HTTP workloads such as gaming, VoIP, or real-time messaging. Azure Application Gateway ...