DNS Load Balancing

Definition - What does DNS Load Balancing mean?

DNS load balancing is a network optimization technique in which a domain's incoming Web traffic is logically proportioned for improved performance and domain availability. It facilitates faster access to a website or domain by providing several IP addresses for a single host or domain name, which routes traffic between two or more servers.

[WEBINAR] Plan for Success: Using Process Models to Achieve Business Goals

Techopedia explains DNS Load Balancing

DNS load balancing helps optimize client requests for a specific domain. It incorporates several techniques that are used to distribute, redirect or manage the overall load balancing process, including:

Backup server: A clone instance of a domain's Web server is created to serve as a secondary DNS. The primary DNS may redirect traffic to this server at runtime.
Round robin DNS-based load sharing: DNS requests are rotated and shared across multiple Web server instances. Although mainly a load sharing algorithm, this also facilitates load balancing.
Dynamic DNS load balancing: DNS requests are routed between Web servers with the best available resources and minimal load.