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crocketv_18020's avatar
crocketv_18020
Icon for Nimbostratus rankNimbostratus
Jul 17, 2009

Monitor Pool member CPU in Load Balancing scheme

Hello,

 

 

I have an https VS /w 2 member pool with basic setup (source addr-persistance, round-robin lb). I would like to investigate a best meathod that would also monitor member CPU utilization. For instance if one member node developes a high cpu utilization but the other member maintaines a normal cpu state I would like the F5 to detect that condition and break out of the standard round-robin and distribute most of the new connection to the member with the normal CPU state.

 

 

In addition, the F5 should detect when the high-cpu system returns back to normal and then proceed with the normal round-robin load balancing.

 

 

In doing some research it seems like some custom Monitor needs to be used with the load balancing meathod. Maybe perhaps a custom form of the "Real_server" monitor.

 

 

I would like if possible to apply this configuration specifically to the members of this specific VS and not to the specific nodes or across other VS/Pools.

 

 

Looking for some suggestions and some direction if possible and/or point do some specific doc I can use.

 

 

Thanks much for the assistance...
management
monitoring

4 Replies

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  • hooleylist's avatar
    hooleylist
    Icon for Cirrostratus rankCirrostratus
    Jul 17, 2009
    cmbhatt and jquinby gave some good tips in this thread for monitoring pool member CPU and other resource usage:

     

     

    Monitor node for load and free swap space

     

    http://devcentral.f5.com/Default.aspx?tabid=53&forumid=32&tpage=1&view=topic&postid=55873

     

     

    Aaron
  • dennypayne's avatar
    dennypayne
    Icon for Employee rankEmployee
    Jul 17, 2009
    If you use something other than round robin for the default lb method, particularly Observed or Predictive, and an application health check that is better than just a ping or tcp port check, then most nodes won't get into this situation in the first place. The LTM will be able to respond dynamically to the load on the nodes as evidenced by their application response time, and you won't have to load agents on the nodes to poll CPU and such.

     

     

    Denny
  • Stephen_Winter's avatar
    Stephen_Winter
    Icon for Nimbostratus rankNimbostratus
    Jul 31, 2009
    When using a Dynamic lb method, do you still need an SNMP monitor so the BigIP can gather that info?
  • hooleylist's avatar
    hooleylist
    Icon for Cirrostratus rankCirrostratus
    Aug 03, 2009
    Yes, you need to add an SNMP DCA type monitor. You can check SOL9125 (SOL9125: Overview of Dynamic Ratio load balancing - Click here) and the Configuration Guide for your version for details.

     

     

    Aaron