IIS Load Balancing with NLB Step By Step.

Load balancing is the process of spreading a system over multiple machines. This process typically has the goal of making a system more scalable by leveraging more than a single server.

Network Load Balancing (NLB) is one of the most popular high availability and redundancy feature used in Windows-based networks. Here, I will explain a detailed step by step guide to install and configure Network Load Balancing in Windows Server 2016.

Network Load Balancing(NLB), NLB Cluster, Web Farm, Server Farm, IIS Load Balancing etc are typically same and provide the same functionality.

For this, I will use the following systems. So, please take a quick look to understand the systems and their configurations and roles:

1. Domain Controller
    IP: 30.30.30.10
2. Node1
    IP: 30.30.30.101
    Role: NLB Cluster
3. Node2
   IP:30.30.30.102
   Role: NLB Cluster

Ok, lets starts to configuring Network Load Balancing Features on NLB nodes.

1.  Using the Server Manager console, launch the Add Roles and Features Wizard.
2. Click next until the Select server roles page is displayed and then select the Web Server (IIS) server role as well as Network Load Balancing Features  as shown in the Screenshot Below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. On the rest of the pages, accept the default selections and complete the installation process.
4. Using the similar steps, install the Web Server (IIS) server role and Network Load Balancing feature on the second NLB node that is Node2. If You have more than 2 servers in NLB Cluster you have to install in all nodes.

After installing Network Load Balancing feature on all the participating NLB nodes, the next step is to configure Network Load Balancing. For this, you need to perform the following steps:

1. Go to tools and select Network Load Balancing Manager then right click Network Balancing Clusters and then click on New Cluster as shown in the following screenshot.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Add Host to the Cluster and Set the IP address as shown in the below screenshot.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Once the Cluster Setup Completes You can add more hosts to the Cluster as shown as below screen shot.
   
   
   
   
4. Here in my Demo Environment i have added 2 server as node1 and node2 in NLB Cluster. As you can see below.
   
   
   
5. Now i have made some Changes in my default IIS so that i can verify which server is serving to me.Okay lets starts with accessing the web with Cluster IP.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Hum, Its working! When i am accessing my cluster ip in browser its accessed via Node 1 and again i open new incognito window its accessed via Node2 as you can see in the above screenshot. It is prove that Our Load Balancing is fine, Lets check does our server in HA?
7. Go to the Network Load Balancing Manager and Stop the Node 2 as shown below and try to access the cluster IP.
   
   
   
   
8. Wow !! Great when we stop the service of Node 2 the web service also available through Node 1.

Note:

• NLB is suitable for services with read only data or data which changes infrequently. Typically for Front End Web Servers, FTP Servers etc.
• Services which are updated frequently like DB, Messaging Server, File Server etc aren't suitable for NLB clustering.

  I hope this post if very helpful to You If you found this helpful, please let me know. You can also drop your feedback in the comment section below.