Case Study: Implementing Load Balancing on a Web Application 1.

Question: How you

configured load balancing for the web application on your chosen cloud platform. Why did you
choose the specific load balancing method? (5 Marks) 2. Question: How would you test the load
balancer’s effectiveness in handling different levels of traffic? Outline the testing approach you
would use. (5 Marks) be as discriptive as possible

Case Study: Implementing Load Balancing on a Web Application

1. Load Balancer Configuration

To configure load balancing for the web application, I chose AWS Elastic Load Balancer
(ELB), specifically the Application Load Balancer (ALB). Here’s a detailed outline of the
configuration process and the reasoning behind this choice:

Configuration Steps:

1. Provisioning ALB: I logged into AWS Management Console, navigated to EC2, and
selected "Load Balancers" to create a new Application Load Balancer.
2. Defining Target Group: I created a target group, defining it to include the EC2 instances
running the web application. I configured the target group to listen on HTTP/HTTPS
ports, allowing it to handle incoming traffic.
3. Listener Rules: I added listeners for ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS). These listeners
inspect incoming requests and route them to the appropriate target group. For HTTPS, I
attached an SSL certificate to secure the data.
4. Health Checks: I configured health checks on the target group for the /health
endpoint of the application. This checks the availability of each instance, ensuring that
only healthy instances receive traffic.
5. Auto-Scaling: I integrated the ALB with an Auto Scaling Group (ASG) to automatically
add or remove EC2 instances based on demand, ensuring elasticity and
cost-effectiveness.

Reason for Choosing ALB:

● Layer 7 Load Balancing: ALB operates at the Application Layer (Layer 7) and can route
traffic based on content within the HTTP headers, path-based routing, or host-based
routing, providing advanced traffic distribution.
● SSL Offloading: ALB supports SSL/TLS termination, offloading encryption/decryption
tasks from the backend instances and improving their efficiency.
● Health Monitoring: ALB allows custom health checks, which is essential for monitoring
the availability of each instance and preventing traffic from going to unhealthy instances.
 ● Cost and Scalability: AWS ALB is cost-effective for applications that need flexible,
content-aware traffic routing and integrates seamlessly with Auto Scaling Groups to
handle varying loads.

Overall, the ALB’s functionality and close integration with AWS services made it an ideal choice
for this web application.

2. Testing the Load Balancer's Effectiveness

Testing the load balancer’s ability to handle different levels of traffic is crucial for ensuring that
the web application can scale effectively under varying load conditions. Below is an outline of
the testing approach I would use:

Testing Approach:

1. Baseline Testing:
○ Objective: To establish baseline metrics (response time, error rate, CPU/memory
utilization) under normal load conditions.
○ Method: Use a load testing tool (e.g., Apache JMeter or Artillery) to simulate
typical user traffic. Monitor the load balancer and application metrics via AWS
CloudWatch.
2. Stress Testing:
○ Objective: To determine how the load balancer handles extreme loads.
○ Method: Gradually increase the number of simulated users in JMeter or Artillery
until the application starts to degrade (e.g., increased response time or HTTP
errors). Track the load balancer's distribution capabilities and the auto-scaling
response.
3. Load Testing with Peak Traffic:
○ Objective: To ensure the load balancer can handle expected peak traffic
volumes.
○ Method: Simulate peak loads to represent the highest expected traffic volume
over an extended period. Evaluate how well the load balancer distributes traffic,
along with any impact on response times and server utilization.
4. Failover Testing:
○ Objective: To test the load balancer’s ability to handle instance failures.
○ Method: During simulated high-load testing, terminate one or more instances in
the target group and observe how the load balancer reroutes traffic to healthy
instances. This tests the load balancer’s health check and failover mechanism.
5. Geographic Load Testing (if applicable):
○ Objective: To verify that the load balancer provides a consistent experience for
users in different regions.
○ Method: Using tools like Blazemeter or AWS CloudFront with ALB, simulate
traffic from various geographic locations to check for consistent performance.
 6. Reporting and Analysis:
○ Gather and analyze metrics from AWS CloudWatch, looking for insights into
response times, latency, error rates, and the number of healthy instances over
time. Document any issues and areas for improvement.

Through this approach, I would thoroughly validate the load balancer's performance, scalability,
and reliability under different traffic conditions.

Case Study : Deploying Virtual Machines for Resource Efficiency 1. Question: Write the steps
you took to configure the virtual machine for optimal performance. What settings did you modify,
and why? (5 Marks) 2. Question: How you would monitor the VM's resource usage over time
and adjust resources to maintain efficiency. (5 Marks)

ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT

Case Study: Deploying Virtual Machines for Resource Efficiency

1. Configuring the Virtual Machine for Optimal Performance

To configure the virtual machine (VM) for optimal performance, I used Microsoft Azure as the
cloud platform. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the steps taken and the specific settings
modified to achieve high efficiency:

Configuration Steps:

1. Choose the Appropriate VM Size:

○ I selected an instance type that matched the application’s expected CPU,
memory, and disk requirements. For example, if the application required high
CPU and RAM, I chose a VM size with a balanced CPU-to-memory ratio (e.g.,
Azure's D-series for general-purpose or F-series for compute-optimized VMs).
○ Reason: Choosing the right size helps avoid under- or over-provisioning
resources, saving costs and optimizing performance.
2. Disk Type and IOPS Optimization:
○ Configured the VM with Premium SSDs to provide high IOPS (Input/Output
Operations Per Second) for applications needing fast storage.
○ Adjusted disk caching settings based on the VM’s workload. For instance, for
read-heavy operations, I enabled read-only caching to improve speed.
○ Reason: Faster IOPS from SSDs and proper caching can significantly improve
performance, especially for applications with high read/write demands.
3. Networking Settings:
○ Enabled Accelerated Networking to reduce network latency, especially for
high-throughput applications.
 ○ Configured Virtual Network (VNet) with proper subnetting and Network Security
Groups (NSGs) to control access and prevent bottlenecks.
○ Reason: Lower latency and well-defined network rules reduce delays and
improve VM performance.
4. CPU and Memory Optimization:
○ Set CPU allocation limits using vCPU quotas to prevent resource contention in
multi-VM setups.
○ For memory management, I configured memory paging policies to optimize
usage during high-load conditions.
○ Reason: Limiting CPU and properly managing memory prevents bottlenecks and
stabilizes performance.
5. Automatic Scaling and Load Balancing:
○ Enabled Auto Scaling in Azure to dynamically adjust the number of instances
based on demand.
○ Set up a Load Balancer to distribute incoming requests evenly across instances
in a multi-VM environment.
○ Reason: Auto-scaling and load balancing prevent resource overload by
managing demand across multiple instances, maintaining efficiency and
response times.

2. Monitoring and Adjusting Resource Usage

To ensure the VM remains resource-efficient over time, I implemented a monitoring and

adjustment strategy using Azure Monitor and Azure Advisor.

Monitoring and Adjustment Steps:

1. Set Up Azure Monitor:

○ Used Azure Monitor to track essential performance metrics like CPU utilization,
memory usage, disk I/O, and network throughput. I configured alerts to notify if
usage approached defined thresholds.
○ Reason: Continuous monitoring allows for real-time insights into resource usage
and immediate action if a threshold is breached.
2. Log Analytics for Performance Insights:
○ Configured Log Analytics in Azure Monitor to collect performance logs and
generate reports on usage patterns over time.
○ Used Application Insights for tracking specific application performance metrics,
which help diagnose bottlenecks within the application.
○ Reason: Log Analytics provides historical data, aiding in trend analysis and
capacity planning.
3. Scaling Adjustments with Azure Autoscale:
○ Based on the observed metrics, I set autoscaling rules to increase or decrease
the number of VMs in the instance group based on CPU, memory, or network
 load. For example, if CPU usage consistently exceeds 75%, additional instances
are added.
○ Reason: Autoscaling prevents resource wastage by adjusting resources
dynamically to match demand.
4. Azure Advisor Recommendations:
○ Regularly reviewed Azure Advisor recommendations to identify potential
optimizations, such as resizing the VM for cost savings or adding/removing
storage based on utilization.
○ Reason: Azure Advisor provides tailored suggestions to optimize performance
and reduce costs, ensuring the VM configuration remains efficient.
5. Monthly Resource Review and Cost Optimization:
○ Conducted monthly reviews of VM performance and resource usage, adjusting
VM size or storage type as needed to match changes in application load.
○ Utilized Reserved Instances (RI) if a long-term need was observed, providing
cost savings over time.
○ Reason: Regular reviews help maintain efficiency, adjusting resources in
response to application growth or changing usage patterns.

Through this approach, I ensured the VM would operate with high efficiency, adapting resources
as needed to maintain performance and minimize costs.

Case Study 3: Exploring Storage as a Service (STaaS) for Data Backup 1. Question: State the
process of configuring a cloud storage solution to back up business data securely. What
encryption and access control measures did you implement? 2. Question: How would you set
up regular backup schedules, and what considerations would you take to ensure minimal data
loss?

1. Configuring a Cloud Storage Solution for Secure Data Backup

To configure a cloud storage solution for secure data backup, you can follow these steps:

a. Choose a Cloud Storage Provider and Define Requirements:

● Select a provider that meets the business's needs for data security, compliance, and
scalability. Common options include AWS, Google Cloud Storage, and Azure Blob
Storage.
● Identify the data types to be backed up and any regulatory requirements for data
encryption and retention.

b. Set Up the Storage Environment:

● Create dedicated storage buckets or containers for data backups. Organize them by
data types, departments, or retention needs.
● Define access permissions and ensure each storage bucket aligns with the principle of
least privilege.
c. Configure Encryption for Data Security:

● In-Transit Encryption: Enable SSL/TLS for data transfers to ensure data is encrypted
as it moves between your systems and the cloud.
● At-Rest Encryption: Use the cloud provider’s encryption mechanisms (e.g., AWS S3
Server-Side Encryption or Google Cloud Storage’s Encryption) to automatically encrypt
data at rest.
● Optionally, use customer-managed keys (CMK) to control encryption keys in cloud
platforms that support this feature, providing an extra layer of security.

d. Implement Access Controls:

● User Access: Utilize Identity and Access Management (IAM) to define roles and
permissions for users and applications accessing the data. Ensure each user has only
the necessary access.
● Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA for all accounts with access to cloud
storage, especially those with high privilege.
● Network Access Restrictions: Configure IP whitelisting, VPNs, or private network
access to limit where data can be accessed from.

2. Setting Up Regular Backup Schedules and Minimizing Data Loss

a. Define the Backup Schedule:

● Full Backups: Schedule periodic full backups, perhaps on a weekly or monthly basis,
depending on data criticality and storage capacity.
● Incremental or Differential Backups: Schedule more frequent incremental or
differential backups (e.g., daily) to capture only changes made since the last backup,
reducing backup size and time.
● Automate Backups: Use the cloud provider's backup scheduling tools, such as AWS
Backup or Azure Backup, to automate backups and avoid manual configuration.

b. Retention and Recovery Considerations:

● Retention Policies: Define data retention policies to keep critical backups available as
long as needed, while ensuring obsolete backups are deleted to save storage.
● Testing Restorations: Schedule regular test restorations to validate that backup data is
intact and recoverable. This helps avoid surprises during actual recovery scenarios.

c. Considerations for Minimal Data Loss:

● Continuous Backup: For critical systems, enable continuous or near-real-time backup

(e.g., Amazon RDS Continuous Backup).
● Redundancy and Geolocation: Store backups in multiple regions or use multi-zone
redundancy options provided by the cloud vendor. This protects against data loss due to
regional outages.
● Versioning and Snapshots: Enable object versioning to keep past versions of files,
which helps in recovering accidentally deleted or corrupted files.