Overloaded web servers are a problem that almost every organization is faced with, even those with extensive experience handling server-side issues. On the other hand, a server overload can be incredibly disruptive for an organization that has never faced server problems before, and it can lead to a loss of visitors, revenue, and reputation. Here we provide some information on some of the common causes and telltale signs of server overload and some key steps you can take to prevent it from occurring in the future.
Proxy Network
Proxy servers are systems or routers which act as a gateway between a user’s computer and the internet. They prevent hackers from gaining access to a private network. An intermediary server serves as a link between end-users and online web pages that they view because it acts as an intermediary between a computer and the internet.
Computers connect to the internet using IP addresses. Like your home’s address, this tells incoming data where to go and lets other devices authenticate outgoing data. A proxy server acts as a gateway to the internet that consists of a computer on the internet with its IP address.
How a Proxy Works
In addition to having their IP address, proxy servers also function as a gateway between a computer and the internet. The address you know on your laptop is the proxy server address, and when you send a request on the internet, the proxy receives the response from the webserver. Then it sends the data from the page to the browser on your computer, like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.
Why Do Proxy Networks Get Overloaded?
Web servers can become overloaded at any time for a variety of reasons:
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A sudden spike in site traffic
If many people try to access your website simultaneously, your server can become overloaded as a result. Even though the increase in traffic can be short-lived, the effect on the reputation of your business can last a long time. An excellent example of this is when a concert ticket goes on sale, and the website goes down shortly afterward.
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Your server is completely down
It is very easy for the backup server to become overloaded when handling the extra traffic when one of the servers is down due to maintenance or a sudden malfunction.
· Viruses or worms on computers
There are situations in which many browsers or computers get infected by a virus or worm, which can cause abnormally high traffic patterns that can interfere with the normal functioning of servers.
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Attacks involving DoS or DDoS
Hackers conduct a denial-of-service attack or distributed denial-of-service attack to prevent a server from being accessed by its intended users. To crash the server, hackers flood the network with thousands of false requests, which causes it to deny the legitimate requests.
Overloaded Servers Signs
You might have an overloaded web server if you see the following signs:
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Error codes displayed
An HTTP error code returned by your server, such as 500, 502, 503, 504, 408, etc.
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The delay in serving requests
A delay of a second or more occurs when your server serves requests.
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Denying or resetting TCP connections
TCP connections are reset or denied before your server returns any content.
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Providing partial content
You are receiving only a portion of the content you requested from your server. There is a possibility that this is the result of a bug, but it could also be due to server overload.
How to Prevent Server Overload
Several standard practices are available to help prevent server overload. In this case, the security measures include blocking unwanted incoming traffic using firewalls, providing alternate sources for content delivery via site caching, and setting up different servers to handle different file sizes. There is, however, a very effective way of preventing server overloads, namely by using an application load balancer.
Using load balancing, an organization’s servers can more easily handle incoming traffic by taking advantage of the traffic being distributed across the servers in a group setting. Load balancing devices reside between the client and the servers, and they route requests based on an algorithm. If one of the servers fails, the load balancer redirects traffic to the other working server to avoid disruption. A software load balancer excels because of its programmability, real-time scalability, reduced cost, application security, and ability to be deployed on-demand.
Types of Proxy Servers
All proxy servers provide users with an alternative address with which to access the internet, but there are different kinds; some of them are discussed below:
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Forward Proxy
A forward proxy service sits in front of clients and provides data to groups of users within an internal network. Upon receiving a request, a proxy server examines the request to determine whether it should proceed with the connection.
There are several reasons why a forward proxy is best suited to internal networks that need a single point of entry. This service provides IP address security for those connected to the web, and straightforward administrative control can be achieved. It is also important to note that a forward proxy may limit an organization’s ability to cater to the individual needs of end-users.
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Data Center Proxy
An internet service provider (ISP) does not provide data center proxy services; instead, they are provided by another corporation through a data center. The proxy server is physically located in a data center, and the users’ requests are routed through that server.
The benefit of these tools is that they allow the user to collect data swiftly and at an affordable price. It is good to use data center proxies if you need quick response times and want an inexpensive choice. For this reason, they are a good choice for individuals seeking intelligence on a person or company who needs it quickly. The advantage of these programs is that they do not offer the highest level of privacy, which may lead to users losing their privacy or revealing their identity.
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Residential Proxy
Residential proxy services provide you with an IP address that belongs to a specific, physical device. When you access the internet through that device, your requests are routed through the device.
There is no doubt that residential proxies are more reliable than other proxy options. Residents can use residential proxies to verify the ads that appear on their website, so that they can block cookies, suspicious or unwanted ads that may appear from competitors or bad actors while viewing their website. The downside of these solutions is that they usually cost more money, so users should carefully evaluate whether the benefits are worth the extra investment.
Shared proxies are proxy servers used by multiple users simultaneously at the same time. They give you access to an IP address that may be shared by other people, allowing you to surf the internet while appearing to have done so from a location of your choice.
Shared proxies are a good option for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money and do not necessarily need a high-speed internet connection. One of the most significant advantages of the shared proxy is its low price. You may be blamed for someone else’s bad decisions because they are shared by others, which could lead to you being banned from a site.
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Rotating Proxy
Whenever a user connects to a rotating proxy, they will be assigned a different IP address. When your device connects to the internet, you will receive an address unique to the device connected before you.
A rotating proxy is ideal for users who need to scrape the web continuously and in high volumes, such as web scrapers. Some contain public or shared proxy servers that could expose your data. Using a rotating proxy, you can repeatedly return to the same website while keeping your identity hidden. However, there are a few things you need to consider when choosing a rotating proxy service.
Benefits of a Proxy Server
Your business can benefit from proxy servers in several ways:
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Security enhancements
A firewall is a device that acts as a barrier between your system and the internet. When they are not used, hackers have easy access to your IP address, which can be used to infiltrate your computer or network.
- Private browsing, watching, and listening
It is advisable to use different proxy servers to prevent you from being bombarded with unwanted advertisements or having your IP address collected.
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Location-specific content
If you wish, the proxy server can be assigned an address associated with a different country. This means that you can, in effect, make it appear as if you are in that country and take advantage of all the content that computers in that country have access to.
Conclusion
An overloaded server may disrupt your business, costing time and money. The Resonate solution is a software-based solution that delivers reliable server load balancing. Get in touch with us to learn more about how our innovative products can benefit your business.
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