Load Balancer Key Features

The Barracuda Load Balancer is designed to provide fast and comprehensive IP load balancing capabilities to any IP-based application, including:

HTTP HTTPS (SSL) SSH SMTP IMAP POP3 NNTP ASP

RDP (Citrix/ Terminal Services) Streaming Media DNS LDAP RADIUS TFTP Other TCP/UDP Services

Since the Barracuda Load Balancer solution is based on Layer 4 rather than Layer 7 switching, performance can exceed most Layer 7 switches in any price range, and you do not need a CSE to set one up. Just 10 minutes, and a good idea of what you want to load balance.

Integrated and Updated Intrusion Prevention

As security becomes a growing concern globally, Barracuda Networks has been hard at work preparing perhaps the world's first "No-Fuss" Intrusion Prevention System. This is not a typical IDS or Active Intrusion Prevention system using sensors that create a virtual storm of messages and alerts. Instead, only potentially damaging exploits are filtered.

The set-and-forget, best of breed Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) helps secure your network, even if you miss a patch or if an exploit manages to get past your existing security. In addition to the Denial of Service (DDoS) protection provided for all load balanced servers by the built-in IPS, the Barracuda Load Balancer will also automatically block any exploits that are detected across multiple protocols, with no extra configuration required. Exploit signatures are regularly updated at Barracuda Central, and are automatically delivered to your Barracuda Load Balancer via Energize Updates.

Auto-Discover Mode

All models of the Barracuda Load Balancer support Auto-Discovery of Real Servers and Services, to ensure quick and easy deployment of new servers. For common services, there's no need to manually configure each port. The Barracuda Load Balancer automatically detects which services are running on a specified server, which saves on deployment and configuration time.

IP Persistence

If your application needs to establish persistence, or server affinity, this is no problem. Simply enter the number of seconds you want clients to persist for, and it is handled. We offer IP persistence, which is automatic. No need to determine the right configuration settings with application developers or expensive consultants.

Scheduling Policy

Multiple scheduling technologies are supported by the Load Balancer, including server weighting, Weighted Least Connection (WLC), and Weighted Round Robin (WRR).

Automated Service Monitor

A fully integrated service monitor is available on all Barracuda Load Balancers, which allows for easy re-configuration of your servers based on the availability of your upstream and downstream infrastructure components. Downed servers are automatically removed from the farm within seconds of server failure.

Multiple Deployment Modes

The Barracuda Load Balancer supports three different operating modes for the most flexibility of any load balancer on the market. Route-path offers the most flexibility, while Bridge-path allows deployment without changes to existing IP infrastructure. Direct Server Return allows up to 10GB throughput, ideal for content delivery networks.

High Availability

High Availability is easy to set up with the Barracuda Load Balancer's Web interface. Simply point the secondary (backup) Barracuda Load Balancer to the primary Load Balancer's management IP address, and the load balancer synchronizes configurations to establish a highly available network that brings your server farm to enterprise grade availability.

Web Administrative Interface

The Barracuda Load Balancer configuration is executed through an intuitive Web interface. With features such as quick server and service adding, health monitoring, and Auto-Discover, the Barracuda Load Balancer is easy to use - a typical configuration can be performed in less than ten minutes!