Layer-7 load balancer
A layer-7 load balancer distributes and routes application-layer requests using information such as protocols, paths, hostnames, and request contents.
Google Anthos in Action
A layer 7 load balancer routes application traffic using information from protocols such as HTTP.
- How it is used
- Routes incoming HTTP(S) traffic to Kubernetes Services in a GKE cluster.
- How deep it goes
- Distinguishes Ingress-based HTTP(S) routing from TCP/L4 load balancing and supplies manifests and a firewall troubleshooting command; does not detail protocol internals.
- Examples
- Shows an Ingress routing two hostnames to separate Services and an event reporting a required firewall change.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via Kubernetes Ingress to route HTTP(S) requests by hostname and inspect provisioning events when firewall changes are needed.
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Kubernetes for Developers
A layer-7 load balancer distributes application-layer requests using information such as HTTP paths and hostnames.
- How it is used
- Routes HTTP traffic to multiple Kubernetes Services through one external IP, domain, or application entry point.
- How deep it goes
- Explains path and hostname routing, HTTPS termination, and Service requirements, but does not detail controller internals.
- Examples
- Demonstrates timeserver and robohash Services selected by URI paths or hostnames.
- What you can do after
- Operate/configure HTTP routing with Kubernetes Ingress manifests and inspect assigned addresses, backends, and health status.
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Related concepts
- HTTPuses · HTTP is a standardized application-layer protocol that defines request-and-response messages for transferring resource representations between networked systems.
- NGINXincludes · NGINX is open-source web-server and reverse-proxy software that serves HTTP content, forwards requests, and can load-balance network traffic.
- Azure Front Doorincludes · Azure Front Door is a global Azure service for accelerating, routing, and load-balancing web application traffic across regions and origins.
- Azure Application Gatewayincludes · Azure Application Gateway is a managed Azure application-delivery service that provides Layer 7 load balancing and HTTP-based routing to backend resources.
- L4 load balanceralternative to · An L4 load balancer distributes transport-layer connections among backend targets using information such as protocol, source and destination addresses, and ports.
- ingress objectimplemented by · A Kubernetes Ingress is an API resource that specifies rules for routing external HTTP and HTTPS requests to services within a cluster.
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