How to Configure a Layer 4 VIP Using the ACOS GUI
This quick card shows how to configure a Layer 4 VIP, which is a virtual IP address assigned to an
ACOS load balancing device. When users attempt to access your website, their requests are sent to the virtual address on the ACOS device and are then forwarded to the real servers. The address is called “virtual” because it appears to the clients as a single IP address even though there may actually be many real servers behind it.
1
Client sends a request to VIP
10.10.10.10
3
Request is load balanced at service group using a standard algorithm
Service Group 1
RS1
5.5.5.1:80
4. A window similar to the following appears. Customize this page by entering the following required settings:
• Name – enter a name for the real server
• IP Address/Host – enter an IP address for the real server
RS2
5.5.5.2:80
2
ACOS Platform
VIP-1 (10.10.10.10:80) accepts all requests to be sent to this IP
RS3
5.5.5.3:80
5. Scroll down to the Port area.
a. In the Port field, enter 80 and leave the Protocol type set to TCP (default).
b. Click Add. The new port appears listed in the table, as shown in the figure below.
Client requests are sent to the VIP (“VIP-1”), which is configured on the ACOS device.
The client requests are then load balanced to the real servers in the service group, which in this example is named “Service Group 1”.
At a high level, the process of setting up a Layer 4 VIP like the one shown in the figure above consists of the following steps:
1. Configuring the real servers
2. Creating a service group and adding the real servers to that service group
3. Creating the VIP and binding the service group to the VIP’s virtual port
Configuring the Real Servers
1. Log into the ACOS GUI, using default username and password: admin / a10
2. Navigate to Config Mode > SLB > Service > Server.
3. Click the Add button.
6. Click OK to save your changes. You may repeat step 5 to add extra real servers.
The example below shows that we have created three real servers.
Next, we’ll add the real servers we just created to a service group.
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How to Configure a Layer 4 VIP Using the ACOS GUI
Creating a Service Group and Adding the Real Servers
Real servers that offer the same types of services (such as web or voice services) are usually bound together as members of the same service group. To create a service group and add real servers to it, follow the procedure below:
1. Navigate to Config Mode > SLB > Service > Service Group.
2. Click the Add button. A window similar to the following appears.
In the Name field, enter a service group name, such as “Service Group 1”.
Creating the VIP and Binding the Service Group to the Virtual Port
Clients send requests to the VIP, and these requests are load balanced among the available real servers. However, in order for this to happen, an association must exist between the VIP and the real servers. This link must be set up by binding the service group to the virtual port. To create this binding, follow the procedure below:
1. Navigate to Config Mode > SLB > Service > Virtual Server.
2. Click the Add button. A window similar to the following appears.
a. In the Name field, enter a name for the VIP, such as “VIP-1”.
b. In the IP Address or CIDR Subnet field, enter the IP for the VIP.
3. Scroll down to the Server area and add your real servers to this service group. Click the Server drop-down menu and select one of the real servers you just created. In the Port field, enter 80, and then click the Add button.
3. Scroll down to the Port area and click Add to add the virtual port. A window similar to the following appears. Enter port 80, Type TCP, and then click the Service Group drop-down menu and select the service group you just created.
4. Repeat step 3 for each real server you want to add to the service group. In this example, three real servers are added to this service group.
5. When finished adding real servers to the service group, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click OK to save your changes to this service group. Next, we will configure the VIP and bind the service group to the virtual port.
Part Number: 23100-EN-01 Jan 2014
4. Scroll to the bottom and click OK to save this virtual port configuration. The port is listed in the table.
5. Click OK again to save your changes to the VIP configuration. You are now finished configuring the VIP, and it will appear in the table, as shown below:
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