IPVS (IP Virtual Server) implements transport-layer load balancing inside the Linux kernel, so called Layer-4 switching. IPVS running on a host acts as a load balancer at the front of a cluster of real servers, it can direct requests for TCP/UDP based services to the real servers, and makes services of the real servers to appear as a virtual service on a single IP address.

Load balancer is a type of computer or component that provides load balancing service. Load balancer assigns work load to a set of networked computer servers or components in such a manner that the computing resources are used in an optimal manner, and provides high availability by detecting server or component failure and reconfiguring the system appropriately.

We are developing a load balancer for our ssl gateway. This is a challenge for us because we all have no experience on that before. However, we can manage it by using IPVS. Modify the open sources is our advantage.