Leveraging Load Balancing Options on the GCP from Pluralsight

Developers and app architects need to understand what kind of load balancer to choose, and why. This course covers the essential load balancing options available on the GCP and demonstrates their use in combination with other GCP technologies.

Load balancers used to be somewhat arcane tools that only some network planners or architects really had to worry about during edge-case planning; now they are absolutely mainstream. This is because, in the on-cloud world, backend compute instances and IP addresses both change frequently and unpredictably. Load balancers provide the stable front-end that end users of an application can reliably connect to, and have their requests routed to the appropriate backend instance. In this course, Leveraging Load Balancing Options on the GCP, you'll explore and work with the different kinds of load balancing options available on the Google Cloud and know the right one to pick for your specific use case. First, you’ll start off by understanding the different load balancing options on the GCP, the OSI layer at which they operate, and understand the differences between global and regional load balancing and external and internal load balancing. Next, you’ll be introduced to the various components that make up the global HTTP load balancer such as backend services, forwarding rules, and URL maps. Then, you'll get hands-on and create and configure two HTTP load balancers to demonstrate the use of both unmanaged and managed instance groups on the backend. Finally, you'll explore all of the other global as well as regional load balancers on the GCP, such as the TCP proxy and SSL proxy load balancing, network load balancing. When you’re done with this course, you'll possess a comprehensive conceptual and hands-on understanding of the various load balancing options on the GCP and you'll be able to pick the right one for your use case.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Understanding Load Balancing Options on the GCP

Implementing Load Balancing with Instance Groups

Configuring Load Balancers in the Google Cloud Platform

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers multiple types of load balancing on the GCP and their applications

Teaches how to implement load balancing with instance groups

Guides the creation and configuration of load balancers in the Google Cloud Platform

Reviews summary

Practical gcp load balancers for architects

According to learners, this course provides a strong conceptual and hands-on understanding of GCP load balancing options, making it particularly valuable for developers and cloud architects. Students consistently praise the clear explanations and practical demonstrations, especially for HTTP load balancing and instance group configurations, which help them confidently pick the right solution for various use cases. While many find it highly relevant for real-world application, some intermediate to advanced users note that certain sections, particularly those on TCP/SSL proxy and network load balancing, could benefit from more advanced scenarios or deeper dives, suggesting it's a solid foundation but may require further self-study for highly complex needs.

Empowers learners to confidently select the appropriate load balancer.

"I feel much more confident in choosing the right load balancing option for different GCP scenarios now."

"The most valuable aspect for me was learning to pick the right load balancer for my specific use case."

"I can now confidently implement these solutions."

Labs are a significant strength, reinforcing theoretical concepts.

"The hands-on labs were particularly useful, allowing me to configure load balancers for both unmanaged and managed instance groups."

"The hands-on exercises cemented the theory."

"The hands-on sections were excellent and the explanations were very clear."

Concepts are explained with great clarity and supported by practical labs.

"The instructor explains complex concepts like global HTTP load balancing and URL maps with great clarity."

"What I appreciated most were the practical demonstrations and the clear distinction between various load balancer types."

"The explanations on unmanaged/managed instance groups were very helpful."

Provides a solid foundation, but lacks deeper coverage for advanced users.

"I wish there were more examples or deeper dives into advanced topics like SSL proxy and TCP proxy load balancing, as those sections felt a bit rushed compared to the HTTP part."

"I felt some parts were a bit basic. If you already have some experience with networking or cloud concepts, you might find some of the initial sections repetitive."

"I found this course somewhat lacking in depth. While it introduces concepts, it doesn't go deep enough into the 'why' behind configurations or offer much in terms of performance considerations."

"It's a good start, but prepare to do more research on your own."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Leveraging Load Balancing Options on the GCP with these activities:

Review networking concepts

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Understanding networking concepts will help you grok the architecture of the load balancers and how they work with GCP technologies.

Browse courses on IP Addressing

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Review basic networking concepts such as IP addressing and the OSI model.
Review TCP and UDP protocols.

Practice load balancing configuration with Google Cloud Platform Console

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Practice configuring load balancers in the Google Cloud Platform Console will help you become familiar with the settings and options available.

Browse courses on Google Cloud Platform Console

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Open the Google Cloud Platform Console
Create a new load balancer
Configure the load balancer settings
Test the load balancer

Create a simple HTTP load balancer with Google Cloud Shell

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Hands-on practice with creating a load balancer will help you understand how they work and how to use them in your own projects.

Browse courses on HTTP Load Balancer

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Open Google Cloud Shell
Create a new HTTP load balancer
Configure the load balancer settings
Test the load balancer

Three other activities

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Organize a study group on load balancing

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Organizing a study group on load balancing will give you the opportunity to discuss the concepts with other students and reinforce your understanding.

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Find other students who are interested in load balancing
Schedule regular study sessions
Prepare topics for each study session
Lead discussions and answer questions

Deploy a web application with a load balancer

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Deploying a real-world application with a load balancer will give you valuable experience and help you understand how to use load balancers in a production environment.

Browse courses on Web Application Deployment

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Create a new web application
Configure the web application to use a load balancer
Deploy the web application to Google Cloud
Test the web application and verify that the load balancer is working

Write a blog post about load balancing best practices

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Writing a blog post about load balancing best practices will help you solidify your understanding of the topic and share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Content Creation

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Research load balancing best practices
Write a blog post outline
Write the blog post content
Publish the blog post

Career center

Learners who complete Leveraging Load Balancing Options on the GCP will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cloud Architect

A Cloud Architect designs and manages the infrastructure of cloud computing systems. They work with clients to determine their needs and develop a plan for implementing a cloud solution. This course can help Cloud Architects understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their cloud applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect

Network Engineer

A Network Engineer designs, installs, and maintains computer networks. They work with a variety of network technologies, including routers, switches, and firewalls. This course can help Network Engineers understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their networks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

Systems Administrator

A Systems Administrator manages the day-to-day operations of computer systems. They work with a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. This course can help Systems Administrators understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Administrator

DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer works with both development and operations teams to ensure that software is deployed and maintained efficiently. This course can help DevOps Engineers understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their applications.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course can help Software Engineers understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their applications.

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Information Technology Manager

An Information Technology Manager plans, implements, and manages an organization's information technology systems. This course can help Information Technology Managers understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their organization's IT systems.

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IT Consultant

An IT Consultant provides consulting services to organizations on how to use information technology to improve their business operations. This course can help IT Consultants understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to help their clients improve the performance and reliability of their IT systems.

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Cloud Computing Engineer

A Cloud Computing Engineer designs, deploys, and manages cloud computing systems. This course can help Cloud Computing Engineers understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their cloud applications.

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Network Administrator

A Network Administrator manages the day-to-day operations of computer networks. This course can help Network Administrators understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their networks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst analyzes and designs computer systems. This course can help Systems Analysts understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their systems.

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Software Developer

A Software Developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course can help Software Developers understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their applications.

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Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst plans and implements security measures to protect an organization's information systems. This course can help Information Security Analysts understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the security of their organization's IT systems.

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Database Administrator

A Database Administrator manages and maintains databases. This course can help Database Administrators understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their databases.

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Web Developer

A Web Developer designs and develops websites. This course can help Web Developers understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the performance and reliability of their websites.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates documentation for technical products and services. This course can help Technical Writers understand the different load balancing options available on the GCP and how to use them to improve the clarity and accuracy of their documentation.

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