> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cloudeka.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cloudeka.ai/guideline-for-enterprise/deka-slb/introduction.md).

# Introduction

**Deka SLB** (Service Load Balancer) distributes incoming network traffic across multiple backend instances to improve application availability, scalability, and reliability. Deka SLB  provides features for managing backend instances and configuring traffic distribution based on application requirements.

* **Multiple Protocol Support**: Supports TCP, HTTP, and HTTPS protocols to accommodate different application and network requirements.
* **Health Check**: Monitors the availability and responsiveness of backend instances to help ensure that traffic is directed to available services.
* **Certificate Management**: provides certificate management for HTTPS requests to ensure transmission reliability and security.
* **Backend Management**: Allows the configuration of a default backend and additional backends to manage traffic distribution across multiple backend instances.
* **Access Control List (ACL)**: Supports traffic routing rules based on request headers and URL paths. Available criteria include req.hdr(Host), path\_beg, and path\_end, with Equal and Not Equal conditions.
* **Bind Address**: Supports Internal and Internet addresses to define the network accessibility of Deka SLB.
* **Load Balancing Mode**: Supports HTTPS, HTTP, and TCP modes for handling incoming traffic according to the selected protocol.
* **Bind Port**: Defines the port used by Deka SLB to receive incoming network traffic.

#### Load Balancing Algorithms

Deka SLB supports the following load balancing algorithms:

<table><thead><tr><th width="184.16668701171875">Column</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Roundrobin</strong></td><td>It is a load method that is given sequentially from one server to another so that it forms a round.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Least Connection</strong></td><td>It is a load method that is given based on the server that has the fewest connections in the lists of servers available.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Source</strong></td><td>The method selects the server to use based on the hash of the source IP address from which the user made the request so that in this method ensures that the same user will connect to the same server</td></tr></tbody></table>

Before creating Deka SLB, at least one backend instance must be available. Backend instances are required to configure the default backend and additional backends. For instructions on creating a backend instance, refer to [Create VM Instance](https://docs.cloudeka.ai/deka-flexi/deka-flexi-instance/create-vm-instance).