server load balancing for application access using multiple servers

[raysm]

1.what are the methods supported by cisco switches for load balancing

2. I want to achive users to access 1 particular ip from different locations but phsically few servers which handle the application and data

[rais.ahmad]

Don't know how L2 switches can load balance. Switches with NAT can:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6640/products_white_paper09186a0080091cb9.shtml

Thanks.

[m.matteson]

well some servers allow you to install routing protocols on them. you could OSPF some links together.

or you could NLB if it is a microsoft server. this uses a heartbeat network, a virtual mac and an IP address bound to the vmac.

you could use NIC teaming. broadcom nics on dell servers allow you to configure them for loadbalancing, failover and a few other options.

or if the servers are mirrored using MSCS or something similar (i.e configured the same but independant) you could just load balance using DNS.

hope this helps. jsut some ideas quickly off the top of my head