Install and Configure Linux Virtual Server (LVS) for Load Balancing

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Install and Configure Linux Virtual Server (LVS) for Load Balancing

Linux Virtual Server (LVS) is a highly available and highly scalable virtual server that is built on a cluster of actual servers using a load balancer. This approach allows the service that is being provided to appear as a single Linux server. In this hands-on lab, you are tasked with setting up LVS in order to provide a virtual service for two Apache HTTP servers.

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Lab Info

Level

Intermediate

Last updated

Sep 06, 2025

Duration

1h 0m

Challenge

Load the IPVS kernel module.

Load in the IPVS kernel module.
Challenge

Install the IPVS administration utility package.

Use yum to install the IPVS administration package.
Challenge

Enable packet forwarding and non-local IP address binding.

Add the IP forward and IP nonlocal bind directives to /etc/sysctl.conf.
Challenge

Start up the `ipvsadm` service and ensure that it persists through reboot.

Create the ipvsadm configuration file and enable and start the ipvsadm service.
Challenge

Configure the virtual service and specify the scheduling algorithm.

Add the virtual service and specify the scheduling algorithm.
Challenge

Add the real servers to the virtual service and specify a packet forwarding method.

Add real-server1 and real-server2 to the virtual service.

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