Prerequisites #

• KVM / Linux Virtualization Environment:
  • Ensure KVM is installed and enabled on a Linux host.
  • Have access to virt-manager, cockpit, or the command line (virsh).
• Load Balancer Virtual Appliance:
  • Download the virtual load balancer image in QCOW2, RAW, or ISO format (e.g., RELIANOID, HAProxy, NGINX Plus, or another appliance).
• Resources:
  • Sufficient CPU, RAM, and storage capacity for the virtual load balancer.
• Networking:
  • Pre-configured Linux bridges or Open vSwitch networks.
  • Static IP address for management access.
• Permissions:
  • Root or sudo access to the KVM host.

Step 1: Access the KVM Host #

1. Log in to the Linux server hosting KVM.
2. Verify virtualization support:
   • Check CPU virtualization extensions (Intel VT-x or AMD-V).
   • Confirm KVM modules are loaded.

Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine #

1. Launch virt-manager or use virsh.
2. Click Create a new virtual machine.
3. Select the installation method:
   • Import existing disk image.
   • Install from ISO image.
4. Click Next.

Step 3: Select Installation Media #

1. If importing an appliance:
   • Select the QCOW2 or RAW disk image.
2. If installing manually:
   • Attach the installation ISO.
3. Click Next.

Step 4: Assign a Name and Description #

1. Provide a name for the virtual machine (e.g., LB-KVM-01).
2. Optionally add a description.
3. Click Next.

Step 5: Allocate CPU and Memory #

1. Assign the required number of vCPUs.
2. Allocate sufficient RAM based on appliance requirements.
3. Click Next.

Step 6: Configure Storage #

1. Confirm or create the virtual disk.
2. Select the storage pool location.
3. Ensure adequate disk capacity.
4. Click Next.

Step 7: Configure Networking #

1. Select the appropriate network:
   • Linux bridge
   • Open vSwitch
2. Attach multiple network interfaces if required:
   • Management
   • Frontend
   • Backend
3. Click Next.

Step 8: Finalize Virtual Machine Creation #

1. Review the virtual machine configuration.
2. Click Finish to deploy the VM.
3. Start the virtual machine.

Step 9: Initial Configuration of the Load Balancer #

Access the Virtual Appliance #

1. Open the VM console using virt-manager.
2. Identify the management IP assigned via DHCP.
3. Configure a static IP address if required.

Configure Basic Settings #

1. Access the appliance via SSH or web interface.
2. Configure:
   • Hostname
   • Static IP address, subnet mask, and gateway
   • DNS servers
3. Apply and save the configuration.

Step 10: Configure Load Balancer Functionality #

Backend Pool Configuration #

1. Add backend server IP addresses.
2. Define service ports (HTTP, HTTPS, etc.).

Frontend Listener Configuration #

1. Create frontend listeners.
2. Assign VIP (Virtual IP) addresses.
3. Specify protocols and ports.

Health Checks #

1. Configure health checks:
   • TCP, HTTP, or HTTPS probes.
   • Timeouts and retry intervals.

SSL/TLS Settings (if applicable) #

1. Upload SSL/TLS certificates.
2. Configure SSL termination or passthrough.

Load Balancing Algorithms #

1. Select an algorithm (Round Robin, Least Connections, Hash-based).
2. Save and apply changes.

Step 11: Cluster Deployment with Two Virtualized Nodes #

For high availability, deploy the load balancer as a two-node cluster.

Cluster Architecture #

• Deploy two identical load balancer VMs on separate KVM hosts when possible.
• Ensure identical CPU, memory, disk, and network configurations.
• Enable configuration and state synchronization.

High Availability and Failover #

• Configure a dedicated synchronization interface.
• Define a floating Virtual IP (VIP).
• Ensure automatic failover between nodes.

State Synchronization #

• Synchronize session data and configurations.
• Isolate synchronization traffic on a backend or sync network.

Step 12: Security Architecture with IPDS and MFA #

Network-Level Security with IPDS #

• Inspect inbound and outbound traffic in real time.
• Detect and mitigate DDoS attacks, scans, and protocol abuse.
• Apply rate limiting and anomaly detection.

Application-Level Security #

• Protect against SQL injection, XSS, and malformed requests.
• Apply security policies per virtual service.
• Log security events for auditing and monitoring.

Authentication and Access Control with MFA #

• Secure administrative access with multi-factor authentication.
• Integrate with LDAP, Active Directory, or RADIUS.
• Apply role-based access control (RBAC).

Step 13: Testing and Validation #

1. Ping the management IP address.
2. Access the frontend VIP from a test client.
3. Verify load distribution across backend servers.
4. Simulate node failure and confirm failover.
5. Review security and system logs.

Step 14: Backup and Monitoring #

1. Create VM snapshots or disk backups.
2. Schedule regular configuration backups.
3. Integrate with monitoring and SIEM solutions.

By following these steps, you can deploy a secure, scalable, and highly available virtual load balancer architecture on KVM, suitable for enterprise and cloud-native environments.