This chapter describes how routers and load balancers are used in Oracle Solaris to connect computer networks and to distribute workloads. Routers handle routing activity by using protocols, such as the Routing Information Protocol (RIP), the next generation RIP (RIPng), the Internet Control Message Protocol Router Discovery (RDISC), the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS), and the Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP).
Load balancers distribute network traffic across a number of servers. The distribution of a network's workload helps to achieve optimal resource sharing and to increase throughput and availability.
This chapter contains the following topics: