AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Exam
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Practice Test

Practice Test

Troubleshoot load balancing
Diagnose Load Balancer Configuration Issues
Diagnosing load balancer configuration issues is crucial for ensuring optimal traffic distribution and high availability of applications in Azure environments. The Azure Load Balancer distributes traffic based on connections rather than packets, and understanding this distinction is key to troubleshooting problems effectively.
Uneven Traffic Distribution
If virtual machines behind a load balancer experience uneven traffic distribution, several factors might be responsible. One common issue is session persistence, which may result in a single machine receiving too much traffic. To solve this, adjust the session persistence setting to None to enable even traffic distribution across all healthy instances. Additionally, consider the impact of proxy configurations, as clients behind proxies might appear as one single client to the load balancer, causing uneven distribution. Correcting these settings can ensure a more balanced traffic flow.
Non-Responsive Virtual Machines
Virtual machines in the backend pool might not respond to traffic on the specified data port due to several reasons. First, make sure the VM is actively listening on the correct data port. You can confirm this by running netstat -an in the command prompt; if the port isn't listed as LISTENING, you'll need to configure it appropriately. Additionally, check for network security group (NSG) settings that may block the port or source IP address. Review these settings to ensure that the IP addresses of clients are permitted, ensuring connectivity for legitimate traffic.
Validation and Resolution Steps
To resolve configuration issues effectively, start by signing into the backend VM and check if the application is listening on the correct port using netstat -an. Once you confirm it is listening, proceed to review and update any network security group settings. Make sure these groups are configured to allow both incoming and outgoing traffic on the designated data port—specifically ensuring the Azure Load Balancer IP address of 168.63.129.16 is permitted within the settings. By following these diagnostic steps systematically, you can identify misconfigurations within the Azure Load Balancer settings, address improper health probe configurations, and apply corrective measures to guarantee proper traffic distribution.
In conclusion, diagnosing load balancer configuration issues involves understanding key concepts like session persistence and proxy configurations. Ensuring that virtual machines are properly listening on designated ports and confirming network security group settings are set correctly form crucial steps in resolving load balancing problems. By focusing on these areas, you can enhance traffic distribution and maintain high availability for applications within Azure environments.