Configure a load balancer

Though MKE does not include a load balancer, you can configure your own to balance user requests across all manager nodes. Before that, decide whether you will add nodes to the load balancer using their IP address or their fully qualified domain name (FQDN), and then use that strategy consistently throughout the cluster. Take note of all IP addresses or FQDNs before you start the installation.

If you plan to deploy both MKE and MSR, your load balancer must be able to differentiate between the two: either by IP address or port number. Because both MKE and MSR use port 443 by default, your options are as follows:

  • Configure your load balancer to expose either MKE or MSR on a port other than 443.

  • Configure your load balancer to listen on port 443 with separate virtual IP addresses for MKE and MSR.

  • Configure separate load balancers for MKE and MSR, both listening on port 443.

If you want to install MKE in a high-availability configuration with a load balancer in front of your MKE controllers, include the appropriate IP address and FQDN for the load balancer VIP. To do so, use one or more --san flags either with the ucp install command or in interactive mode when MKE requests additional SANs.