What is the difference between failover tools and load balancing?

What is the difference between failover tools and load balancing?

Failover tools are designed to switch to a backup system when the primary fails, ensuring uptime. Load balancing, on the other hand, distributes traffic across multiple servers to optimize resource use and prevent overload.

Can you give me examples of failover tools?

Sure! Examples of failover tools include Microsoft Failover Clustering, VMware vSphere HA, and AWS Elastic Load Balancing.

How does load balancing improve performance?

Load balancing improves performance by distributing incoming network traffic across multiple servers, which helps to prevent any single server from becoming a bottleneck.

Are there any tools that combine both failover and load balancing?

Yes, some tools like HAProxy and NGINX can provide both load balancing and failover capabilities, ensuring high availability and efficient traffic management.

What should I consider when choosing between these tools?

Consider factors like your infrastructure, budget, scalability needs, and the specific requirements of your applications.