Google Associate Cloud EngineerDeploying and implementing a cloud solutionMedium
A company is designing a highly available and fault-tolerant architecture for a web application deployed on Compute Engine. They need to ensure that if an entire zone fails, the application remains operational. Which networking component is crucial for distributing traffic across instances in different zones?
- AGlobal External HTTP(S) Load Balancer
- BNetwork Load Balancer
- CInternal Load Balancer
- DSSL Proxy Load Balancer
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Global External HTTP(S) Load Balancer
A Global External HTTP(S) Load Balancer provides a single global IP address and distributes traffic to backends across multiple regions and zones. This is crucial for achieving high availability and fault tolerance against zone failures for web applications.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Network Load Balancers are regional and operate at Layer 4, primarily for non-HTTP(S) traffic, and do not provide global distribution for web applications.
- C. Internal Load Balancers distribute traffic within a single VPC network, typically within a region/zone, not globally or across zones for external traffic.
- D. SSL Proxy Load Balancers handle SSL offload at the edge and distribute traffic globally, but the HTTP(S) Load Balancer is the more general and commonly used solution for web applications.
Global External HTTP(S) Load Balancer
A global, Layer 7 load balancer that distributes HTTP(S) traffic to backend services across multiple regions and zones, offering high availability, fault tolerance, and advanced traffic management.
- Global scope, single IP.
- Layer 7 (HTTP/HTTPS) load balancing.
- SSL termination at the edge.
- Supports multiple regions/zones for high availability.
Memory trick: Global HTTP(S) LB: Your web traffic's worldwide director, always on.