Chapter 5. Overview
The JBoss HTTP Connector mod_cluster is a reduced-configuration, intelligent load-balancing solution for JBoss Enterprise Application Platform, based on technology originally developed by the JBoss mod_cluster community project.
The JBoss HTTP connector load-balances HTTP requests to JBoss Enterprise Application Platform and JBoss Enterprise Web Server worker nodes, using Apache HTTP Server as the proxy server.
5.1. Key features
- Apache HTTP Server-based
- The JBoss HTTP Connector mod-cluster uses Apache HTTP Server as the proxy server.
- Real-time load-balancing calculation
- The JBoss HTTP Connector mod_cluster creates a feedback network between the worker nodes and the proxy server. The mod_cluster service is deployed on each of the worker nodes. This service feeds real-time load information to the proxy server. The proxy server then makes intelligent decisions about where to allocate work, based on the current load on each worker node. This real-time adaptive load distribution results in increased optimization of resources.The information that is reported by the worker nodes and the load-balancing policy used by the proxy are both customizable.
- Routing based on real-time application life-cycle
- The JBoss HTTP Connector mod_cluster service deployed on the worker nodes relays application life-cycle events to the proxy server. This allows the server to dynamically update its routing table. When an application is undeployed on a node, the proxy server no longer routes traffic for that application to that node.
- Automatic Proxy Discovery
- The proxy server can be configured to announce its presence via UDP multicast. New worker nodes discover the proxy server and add themselves to the load-balancing cluster automatically. This greatly reduces the configuration and maintenance needed. When UDP multicast is not available or is undesirable, worker nodes are configured with a static list of proxies.
- Multiple Protocol Support
- The JBoss HTTP Connector mod_cluster can use HTTP, HTTPS, or Apache JServ Protocol (AJP) for communication between the proxy and the worker nodes.