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Load balancing and failover with IBM HTTP Server

In an ND environment, you can configure IBM HTTP Server as a proxy server for workload balancing and failover purposes. Instead of incoming HTTP requests going directly to an application server, they go to the proxy server, which then distributes the requests across multiple application servers that perform the work.

You do not have to use IBM HTTP Server for load balancing, you can use any other type of routing server, for example, WebSphere Application Server proxy server, any other web server, reverse proxy server, or network layer IP sprayer.

Although the specific configuration steps differ depending on your environment, the following general tasks can help you plan for and implement workload balancing and failover with IBM HTTP Server.

  1. Review the information in Selecting a front end for your WebSphere Application Server topology to learn more about using a proxy server front end.
  2. Implement a web server plug-in. Install and configure the plug-in as part of the local dmgr profile. These WebSphere Application Server topics provide more information:

  3. Configure SSL between the dmgr for WebSphere Application Server and the IBM HTTP Server administration server. You must configure the Application Server to accept a self-signed certificate from IBM HTTP Server so SSL connections are accepted and transactions are completed. See Configure SSL between the IBM HTTP Server Administration Server and the dmgr for more information.
  4. Customize the Process Server or Process Center cluster so that the configuration file points to the web server, the Process Server is in online mode, and communication is enabled for HTTP over SSL or HTTP Secure (HTTPs). See Customize the Process Server or Process Center cluster to work with a web server.

Plan the ND environment


Related concepts:
Considerations for selecting a topology