Optimize traffic and rely on intelligent load balancing that's individually aligned to your applications. The Application Load Balancer (ALB) creates new load balancing functions to ensure the smooth performance of your IT infrastructure in the http(s) transport layer. Configuration on the application layer and according to your routing rules is easy thanks to the virtual IONOS Data Center. From http methods, request headers, hostname, path, or query string parameters — the decision of routing incoming requests is yours.

Configure and go

The Application Load Balancer is a managed service so you can get started right away. IONOS ensures a smooth deployment by managing the whole process, from installation to operation, and maintenance. All you need to do is configure your virtual data center with IONOS and align your applications for enhanced performance and scalability.

The Application Load Balancer is structured to provide a fixed response where a static response is configured. Your pre-configured rules, header entries, and exact data traffic methods render the need for failover scenarios or error handling in your software negligible. The Application Load Balancer also manages errors centrally in the event of unauthorized access attempts.

Compatible for the Network Load Balancer

For maximum flexibility IONOS also offers a Network Load Balancer to extend load balancing and use cases. In addition to the network layer (Layer 3) this also includes the application layer (Layer 7). The Application Load Balancer performs regular health checks, boosting the performance of configured targets and the setup of redundant IT architectures.Both Load Balancers from IONOS can be used as part of a stack or in succession depending on the choice of application:

Processing http requests and their attributes? Align your balancing logic with the Application Load Balancer.
Routing TCP traffic for critical applications? Restrict the logic to Layer 4 and select the Network Load Balancer.

Tip: You can use any TLS/SSL certificates to set up secure https connections between the client and the Application Load Balancer. The Application Load Balancer takes over so-called SSL offloading. So there’s no more load on your application server but your connection is still secure.

Application Load Balancer flexible usage

Features at a glance

Individual routing rules

Define how and when requests are forwarded to specified destinations. For each rule, priority, single or multiple actions and conditions can be defined, among other things.

Regular health checks

The Application Load Balancer periodically checks the status of registered targets so that traffic is forwarded to healthy targets only. To do this, set up health checks for each target selection.

Listener interface

The integrated listener interface supports multiple IP addresses with different forwarding rules, for connections from clients via an exposed IP address and via the configured listener port.

Bidirectional communication channels

Supports the WebSockets protocol, which enables bidirectional communication channels between a client and a server using TCP connection.

Relocate TLS connections

TLS/SSL certificates can be managed by the Application Load Balancer and connection failures can be shifted to it, while preserving the source IP address.

Set up warm-up phase

Define an individual start-up time in which newly added targets are requested on a limited basis until they reach their optimal capacity.

Optimal control of your applications

Advantages of the IONOS Cloud Managed Application Load Balancer

Use case

Use FTP server for secure data transfers

Simplify the exchange of files within your organization and use the Application Load Balancer to distribute network traffic based on real demand ensuring high availability of the FTP server.

Use case

Operate email server redundantly

Use the Application Load Balancer to balance excessive email server loads by separating incoming and outgoing mail servers and defining additional targets. The effect is more stable, secure, and faster communication.

Use case

Virtualize workstations with the cloud

Build cloud web applications as the standard for accessing virtualized and terminal server-based workstations. The implementation of centralized authentication and authorization systems reduces security risks and improves economical use of server capacity.