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Network Load Balancer

Overview​

Network Load Balancer (NLB) is a high-performance AWS service designed to distribute network traffic at the transport layer (Layer 4) across multiple targets. It supports TCP and UDP protocols, provides static IP addresses, and integrates with other AWS services for high availability and scalability. NLB is ideal for high-throughput applications, TCP/UDP-based services, and scenarios requiring static IP addresses, offering robust load balancing solutions with minimal latency.

Key Features​

  • Operates at the transport layer (Layer 4) of the OSI model
  • Low Latency, High Throughput
  • TCP and UDP Support
  • Static IP Addresses / Elastic IP
  • Health Checks
  • Zonal Failover
  • Integration with AWS Services
  • PrivateLink Support:

Use Cases​

1. High-Performance Applications:

  • Heavy Traffic: Suitable for applications requiring high-performance load balancing with minimal latency, such as gaming, financial transactions, and real-time analytics.

2. TCP/UDP-Based Services:

  • Protocol-Specific: Ideal for applications that use TCP or UDP protocols, such as VoIP (Voice over IP), gaming servers, and streaming services.

3. Static IP Requirements:

  • IP Whitelisting: Provides static IP addresses that can be used for whitelisting and ensuring consistent network access.

4. Hybrid Environments:

  • On-Premises and Cloud: Facilitates load balancing across both on-premises and cloud-based resources when used with AWS PrivateLink.

Analogy​

Network Load Balancer (NLB) is like a traffic cop at a highway intersection who directs cars (network packets) based on their destination. Just as a traffic cop ensures that traffic flows smoothly and efficiently without causing congestion, NLB distributes incoming network traffic to various servers based on connection requests, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.