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Load Balancing

Introduction​

Network load balancing is the ability to balance traffic across two or more links without using dynamic routing protocols.

There are two types of balancing methods:

  • per-packet - each packet of a single stream can be forwarded over different links. This method will work reliably especially on TCP and secure connections only when you are able to control both balancing endpoints.
  • per-connection - all packets of the same connection (stream) are always sent over one link. This method is mandatory in setups where only one end of the balancing is under our control, for example, a home router with multiple WAN connections.
MethodPer-connectionPer-packet

Firewall Mangle		NthYesYes
PCC (Per Connection Classifier)YesNo
Other matchersYesYes
ECMP (Equal Cost Multi-Path)YesNo
BondingNoYes
OSPFYesNo
BGPYesNo

Simple Failover Example​

The simplest failover setup would be to use multiple gateways when one gateway is active and another one takes over when the first one fails.

To make this work, configure a larger distance value for the secondary one, and check-gateway for the first one:

/ip/route/add gateway=192.168.1.1 distance=1 check-gateway=ping
/ip/route/add gateway=192.168.2.1 distance=2

The check-gateway will make sure the gateway is up only when actual traffic can reach the gateway. When the ping fails the first gateway will become inactive and the second one will take over, and when the first gateway recovers it will become active and make the second gateway work again as a backup.