- Client-side load balancing decentralises load balancing functions, reducing the risk of a single point of failure.
- By making server selection decisions at the client level, client-side load balancing minimises network latency and improves response times.
- Client-side load balancing Eliminates the need for dedicated load balancing hardware or software, reducing infrastructure costs.
Client-side load balancing plays a critical role in network and web traffic management by distributing workloads across multiple servers directly from the client side. Unlike traditional server-side load balancing, where the server or network makes the distribution decisions, client-side load balancing allows the client application to intelligently distribute requests to available servers.
This approach offers benefits in terms of flexibility, efficiency and response time optimisation, making it an essential technique for modern applications operating in dynamic, distributed environments. By utilising real-time data on network latency, server health and load, client-side load balancing ensures optimal performance and reliability.
What is client-side load balancing?
Client-side load balancing involves distributing network or application requests across multiple servers, with the load balancing logic running on the client device or within the client’s deployment environment. This approach allows clients to make intelligent decisions about which server to connect to based on real-time data about network latency, server health and current load.
How does client-side load balancing work?
The core of client-side load balancing is a local service discovery mechanism where the client maintains a list of available servers and their status. Clients can dynamically update this list based on continuous health checks or through a central configuration service. When a request needs to be made, the client’s load balancing algorithm selects the best server based on pre-defined criteria such as the fewest connections, fastest response time or even geographical proximity.
Also read: How does a client server infrastructure work?
Benefits of client-side load balancing
Reduced single points of failure: By decentralising load balancing functions across multiple clients, rather than relying on a single load balancer, the design improves resilience and reduces the risk of a single point of failure.
Reduced network latency: Because the decision of which server to connect to is made at the client level, server response time can be minimised, resulting in faster interactions and data retrieval.
Cost efficiency: Client-side load balancing eliminates the need for dedicated server-side load balancing hardware or software, potentially reducing the costs associated with maintaining such infrastructures.
Also read: 2 benefits of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Transit Routing
Disadvantages of client-side load balancing
Increased complexity in client setup: Integrating load balancing logic into the client can complicate client setup and maintenance. Developers must ensure that the load balancing component is robust and does not introduce bugs or additional latency into the client application.
Coupling microservice code with load balancing logic: Intertwining service logic with load balancing routines can create challenges in managing and updating code bases, making them less modular and potentially harder to maintain.
By incorporating client-side load balancing, developers can reap improved performance and cost benefits, but they must also manage the complexity it introduces into the application architecture. This balance of pros and cons highlights the critical considerations developers must make when architecting modern applications, especially in environments that utilise microservices and cloud-based infrastructure.
