1 Introduction

From within a Virtual Service, one or more 'Sub-Virtual Services' (SubVSs) can be created. SubVSs are useful when there are complex applications that require a larger number of Virtual Services. SubVSs may be used for certain configurations such as Exchange or Lync.

1.1 Document Purpose

This document describes how to add and configure SubVSs on the Kemp LoadMaster using the LoadMaster Web User Interface (WUI).

1.2 Intended Audience

This document is intended to help anyone who wishes to learn about or implement SubVSs on their LoadMaster configuration.

2 Advantages of SubVSs

Using SubVSs has many advantages, such as:

SubVSs are linked to, and use the IP address of, the 'parent' Virtual Service.

Using SubVSs reduces the number of IP addresses required by applications such as Lync or Exchange

SubVSs do not require non-transparency

SubVSs may have different settings (such as content rules) to the parent Virtual Service and to each other

Using a SubVS provides the ability to have content switching and persistency on the same Virtual Service

Using a SubVS gives the ability to perform multiple health checks on the same Virtual Service

3 Prerequisites

There are a few prerequisites/points to note before setting up a SubVS:

• Before a SubVS can be added, you must set up a Virtual Service. For steps on how to add a Virtual Service, refer to the Virtual Services and Templates, Feature Description on the Kemp Documentation Page.
• Real Servers and SubVSs cannot be associated with the same Virtual Service. A SubVS can only be added to a Virtual Service if there are no Real Servers set up on it already. A Real Server can be associated with a SubVS if required.
• Users with the Virtual Services permission cannot add a SubVS. Users with the Real Server permission can add a SubVS.
• SubVS functionality is only available on version 7.0-4 or later of the Kemp LoadMaster.
• There cannot be a SubVS of a SubVS.

4 Add/Modify/Delete a SubVS

To add, modify or delete a SubVS, follow the steps below:

1. Log in to the relevant Virtual LoadMaster (VLM).

2. In the main menu, click Virtual Services and select View/Modify Services.

3. Click the Modify button on the relevant Virtual Service.

To add a SubVS, go to the Add a SubVS section.

To modify a SubVS, go to the Modify a SubVS section.

To delete a SubVS, go to the Delete a SubVS section.

4.1 Add a SubVS

Following on from the steps in the Add/Modify/Delete a SubVS section, continue with the steps below.

1. Expand the Real Servers section (if there are already SubVSs on this Virtual Service this section will be called SubVSs).

2. Click the Add SubVS... button (or Add New ... button if this is not the first SubVS to be added to this Virtual Service).

3. A success message will appear, as illustrated in the above screenshot. Click the OK button.

When the first SubVS is added to a Virtual Service the Real Servers section will be replaced with the SubVSs section in the Virtual Services configuration page. Any SubVSs of the relevant Virtual Service will be listed in this section.

4.2 Modify a SubVS

Following on from the Add/Modify/Delete a SubVS section, continue with the steps below:

1. Expand the SubVSs section.

2. Click Modify.

When the Modify button is clicked a configuration screen for the SubVS appears. This contains a subset of the configuration options that a normal Virtual Service has.

For a description of SubVS specific fields, refer to the SubVS WUI Options section.

For a description of the other (non-SubVS specific) fields and options, refer to the Web User Interface (WUI), Configuration Guideon the Kemp Documentation Page.

For steps on how to configure a Virtual Service, refer to the Virtual Services and Templates, Feature Description on the Kemp Documentation Page.

4.3 Delete a SubVS

Following on from the Add/Modify/Delete a SubVS section, continue with the steps below to delete a SubVS:

1. Expand the SubVSs section.

2. On the SubVS that is to be deleted, click the Delete button.

3. Click OK.

The SubVS will be deleted. If this SubVS was the only SubVS on the Virtual Service, the SubVSs section will change back to the Real Servers section.

A parent Virtual Service can only be deleted if its SubVSs have all been deleted.

4.4 SubVS WUI Options

Most of the fields in the SubVS properties screen are the same as the ones used for a normal Virtual Service.

For a description of the other fields and options, refer to the Web User Interface (WUI), Configuration Guide on the Kemp Documentation Page.

See below for descriptions of the SubVS specific fields.

SubVS Name: An identifiable name for the SubVS. This field is optional but Kemp recommend that SubVSs are named as it may get confusing if several SubVSs exist.

In addition to the usual alphanumeric characters, the following 'special' characters can be used as part of the Service Name:
. @ - _
However, there must be at least one alphanumeric character before the special characters.

SubVS Type: Setting this controls the options displayed for the SubVS. It's important to make sure the SubVS Type is set according to the type of application is being load balanced.

SubVS Weight: This will be used when determining the priority of the SubVS.

SubVS Limit: This is the maximum number of connections that can be forwarded to this SubVS before it is taken out of rotation from the main Virtual Service. The maximum limit is 100,000.

 

References

Unless otherwise specified, the following documents can be found at: http://kemptechnologies.com/loadmaster-documentation

Virtual Services and Templates, Feature Description

Web User Interface (WUI), Configuration Guide

Last Updated Date

This document was last updated on 07 March 2022.