LocalDirector 410 Cisco Systems Server Connection Management System

Cisco Systems’s LocalDirector is an integrated solution with a secure real-time embedded operating system that intelligently load-balances Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) traffic across multiple servers. Appearing as one “virtual” server, it delivers optimized performance by distributing client requests across a cluster of low-cost servers. As a result, it dramatically reduces the cost of providing large-scale internet services. Additionally, it provides a robust, high-availability system and proven technique for actively managing servers and connections in a distributed environment. LocalDirector is a high-performance internet appliance with over 80-Mbps throughput and proven performance in the highest-traffic internet sites. The session distribution algorithm (SDA) intelligently distributes load and maximizes the number of TCP/IP connections that a server farm can manage.

Ideal for mission-critical applications, LocalDirector provides a robust, high-availability system for server farms. Servers can be automatically and transparently placed in or out of service, depending on availability. Finally, LocalDirector allows virtual and real servers to back up one another, and a maximum connection limit can be set to ensure that services do not fail from traffic overload.

LocalDirector is a sophisticated server connection management system, which allows administrators to direct TCP traffic to different servers based on service, speed, and number of connections. Server resources can easily be reallocated depending on traffic demands and patterns. LocalDirector can effectively manager servers consisting of a collection of heterogeneous hardware and operating systems. LocalDirector requires minimal set up and no network address changes, which eliminates valuable administrative resources.