What are the benefits and challenges of using WFF for load balancing?

1 What is WFF?

WFF is a tool that simplifies the configuration and deployment of web applications across multiple web servers. It enables you to create a web farm, which is a group of web servers that share the same content and settings. WFF automatically synchronizes the content and configuration of the web farm, so you don't have to manually update each server. WFF also integrates with other IIS features, such as Application Request Routing (ARR), which is a proxy and load balancer that distributes requests among the web servers in the web farm.

2 Why use WFF for load balancing?

Using WFF for load balancing can offer several advantages for your web applications, such as improved performance by distributing the workload among multiple web servers, increased availability by having multiple web servers, enhanced scalability by adding or removing web servers from the web farm, and simplified management by using WFF to centrally manage the content and configuration of the web farm. Additionally, WFF can be used to monitor the health and status of the web servers.

3 How to use WFF for load balancing?

Using WFF for load balancing requires the installation and configuration of a primary server, where WFF is installed and the web farm is managed, as well as one or more secondary servers that join the web farm and host the applications. The basic steps for using WFF for load balancing include installing WFF and ARR on the primary server, creating a web farm and adding secondary servers to it, configuring the content and settings of the web farm, configuring ARR to route requests to the web farm, and testing and monitoring the web farm.

4 What are the challenges of using WFF for load balancing?

Using WFF for load balancing can bring many advantages, however, it can also present some challenges. It involves multiple components and steps, making it complex and difficult to learn. Additionally, all web servers in the web farm must run the same version of IIS and have the same features and modules installed; otherwise, errors or inconsistencies may occur. Furthermore, using WFF for load balancing exposes your web farm to potential attacks or breaches. To secure your web farm and ARR, it is important to use proper authentication, encryption, and firewall rules.

5 How to overcome the challenges of using WFF for load balancing?

To successfully use WFF for load balancing, it’s important to plan ahead and evaluate the pros and cons of this option compared to cloud services or hardware load balancers. You should also follow Microsoft’s official documentation and tutorials and be aware of the compatibility and prerequisites of WFF and ARR before installation. Furthermore, it’s essential to secure your web farm and ARR by using HTTPS, SSL certificates, and IP restrictions. Additionally, you should monitor your web farm and ARR for any suspicious or malicious activity and update them regularly.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?