Backend traffic directors
import directors [from "path"] ;
vmod_directors enables backend load balancing in Varnish.
The module implements a set of basic load balancing techniques, and also serves as an example on how one could extend the load balancing capabilities of Varnish.
To enable load balancing you must import this vmod (directors) in your VCL::
import directors;
Then you define your backends. Once you have the backends declared you can add them to a director. This happens in executed VCL code. If you want to emulate the previous behavior of Varnish 3.0 you can just initialize the directors in vcl_init, like this::
sub vcl_init {
new vdir = directors.round_robin();
vdir.add_backend(backend1);
vdir.add_backend(backend2);
}
As you can see there is nothing keeping you from manipulating the directors elsewhere in VCL. So, you could have VCL code that would add more backends to a director when a certain URL is called.
Note that directors can use other directors as backends.
Object fallback
VOID fallback.add_backend(BACKEND)
BACKEND fallback.backend()
Object hash
VOID hash.add_backend(BACKEND, REAL)
BACKEND hash.backend(STRING_LIST)
Object random
VOID random.add_backend(BACKEND, REAL)
BACKEND random.backend()
Object round_robin
VOID round_robin.add_backend(BACKEND)
BACKEND round_robin.backend()
Description
Create a round robin director.
This director will pick backends in a round robin fashion.
Example
new vdir = directors.round_robin();
Prototype
VOID round_robin.add_backend(BACKEND)
Description
Add a backend to the round-robin director.
Example
vdir.add_backend(backend1); vdir.add_backend(backend2);
Prototype
BACKEND round_robin.backend()
Description
Pick a backend from the director.
Example
set req.backend_hint = vdir.backend();
Description
Create a fallback director.
A fallback director will try each of the added backends in turn, and return the first one that is healthy.
Example
new vdir = directors.fallback();
Prototype
VOID fallback.add_backend(BACKEND)
Description
Add a backend to the director.
Note that the order in which this is done matters for the fallback director.
Example
vdir.add_backend(backend1); vdir.add_backend(backend2);
Prototype
BACKEND fallback.backend()
Description
Pick a backend from the director.
Example
set req.backend_hint = vdir.backend();
Description
Create a random backend director.
The random director distributes load over the backends using a weighted random probability distribution.
Example
new vdir = directors.random();
Prototype
VOID random.add_backend(BACKEND, REAL)
Description
Add a backend to the director with a given weight.
Each backend backend will receive approximately 100 * (weight / (sum(all_added_weights))) per cent of the traffic sent to this director.
Example
vdir.add_backend(backend1, 10); vdir.add_backend(backend2, 5); # 2/3 to backend1, 1/3 to backend2.
Prototype
BACKEND random.backend()
Description
Pick a backend from the director.
Example
set req.backend_hint = vdir.backend();
Description
Create a hashing backend director.
The director chooses the backend server by computing a hash/digest of the string given to .backend().
Commonly used with client.identity or a session cookie to get sticky sessions.
Example
new vdir = directors.hash();
Prototype
VOID hash.add_backend(BACKEND, REAL)
Description
Add a backend to the director with a certain weight.
Weight is used as in the random director. Recommended value is 1.0 unless you have special needs.
Example
vdir.add_backend(backend1, 1.0); vdir.add_backend(backend2, 1.0);
Prototype
BACKEND hash.backend(STRING_LIST)
Description
Pick a backend from the backend director.
Use the string or list of strings provided to pick the backend.
Example
set req.backend_hint = vdir.backend(req.http.cookie); # pick a backend based on the cookie header from the client