The Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn enables Wowza Streaming Engine™ media server software redirect client connections across multiple server installations when a single server installation can't manage them all.
A load-balancing configuration requires you to set up a dedicated load balancer server that directs client connections to additional Wowza Streaming Engine edge servers to handle the connections. The edge servers periodically send load and status information back to the load balancer server so that it can track edge server load and availability. All communication between the edge servers and the load balancer is encrypted and signed.
About Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn
Load balancing in Wowza Streaming Engine is based on a live stream repeater configuration where the load balancer server is the origin and all other Wowza Streaming Engine instances are used as edge servers. All servers (load balancer and edges) in a Wowza Streaming Engine load-balancing system use the ServerListenerLoadBalancerServer server listener and property configuration to enable the desired load-balancing functionality.
The LoadBalancerInterface HTTP provider must be configured on the load balancer to enable it to track the load and availability of each edge server with which it communicates. Optional HTTP providers can be added to the load balancer server. Optional providers include LoadBalancerInformation, which provides a web-based administration interface that lets you view edge server statistics and remove edge servers from the system, and LoadBalancerPublicInterface, which enables you to return load-balancing information for integration into well-known Flash clients.
Notes:
- The Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn must be configured in the Wowza Streaming Engine XML configuration files. It can't be configured in Wowza Streaming Engine Manager.
- Changes and updates to the AddOn are listed in the version.txt file that's included in the AddOn package.
The Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn for Wowza Streaming Engine supports redirection over HTTP, RTMP, and RTSP protocols to edge servers that have available bandwidth or connections. It also supports geographic load balancing to redirect clients to available edge servers in specific geographic regions.
The same version of Wowza Streaming Engine must run on all servers in the load-balancing system. For additional version information and download links, check the following table.
| Wowza Streaming Engine | Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Versions 4.8.19 and later | Use version 4.8 | LoadBalancer_4.8.zip |
| Versions 4.7.3 to 4.8.18 | Use version 4.5 | LoadBalancer_4.5.zip |
| Earlier versions (4.0 to 4.7.2.02) | Use version 4.0 | LoadBalancer_4.0.zip |
Dynamic load balancing for Wowza Streaming Engine 4.7.3 and later
Applies to: Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn 4.5 and 4.8
Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn enables bandwidth, connection, geographic, stream location, and address space location-based system load balancing between multiple Wowza Streaming Engine servers. It adds support for the MaxMind GeoIP2 databases for geographic load balancing and supports redirection over the following streaming protocols for live and video-on-demand applications:
- Apple HTTP Live Streaming (HLS)
- Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP and RTMPS)
- Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)
- MPEG-DASH
Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn adds significant automatic configuration, reducing the amount of manual XML configuration required.
To get up and running, each AddOn package includes the Wowza Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn User's Guide (WowzaDynamicLoadBalancingAddOn_UsersGuide_[version].pdf), which helps you to create simple and advanced load-balancing systems. The guide describes the configuration in detail, provides information about all of the properties that you can use to tune the system, and has examples of the server software configuration files.
Dynamic load balancing for Wowza Streaming Engine 4.0 to 4.7.2
Applies to: Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn 4.0
Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn 4.0, for use with Wowza Streaming Engine 4.0 to 4.7.2.02, enables bandwidth, connection, and geographic-based system load balancing between multiple Wowza Streaming Engine servers. It supports redirection over the following streaming protocols for live and video-on-demand applications:
- Apple HTTP Live Streaming (HLS)
- Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP and RTMPS)
- Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)
To get up and running, the AddOn package includes a README.html file with instructions for setting up a simple load-balancing configuration based on available bandwidth or connections. The package also includes a user guide WowzaDynamicLoadBalancingAddOn_UsersGuide.pdf, which helps you to create a more advanced load-balancing system (such as adding geographic-based load balancing). The guide describes the configuration in detail, provides information about all of the properties that you can use to tune the system, and has examples of the server software configuration files.
