Pound is multitasking software that acts as a reverse load balancer, HTTP proxy, and SSL wrapper – an all-in-one tool for handling heavy network traffic.
If you're looking for a reliable reverse load balancer, HTTP proxy, and SSL wrapper, Pound is worth checking out. It enables you to proxy client HTTPS requests to HTTP backend servers, distribute those requests among several servers, and keep sessions intact. It also supports HTTP/1.1 requests even if backend servers are HTTP/1.0 and sanitize requests.
One of the most notable features of Pound is its functionality as a reverse-proxy, which can forward requests from client browsers to one or more backend servers. Additionally, it functions as a load balancer, which helps distribute requests from the client browser among multiple backend servers while keeping session information intact. The SSL wrapper functionality of Pound enables it to decrypt HTTPS requests from client browsers and forward them as plain HTTP to backend servers. Moreover, it verifies the authenticity of the requests and only accepts well-formed ones to ensure better overall security.
If any of the backend servers fail, Pound can serve as a fail-over server and take note of the problem, stopping any further requests to that server and redirecting them to another server as per the requested URL. The software also offers support for various session types, including PARM session type, now available for tracking based on HTTP parameters.
Pound has undergone several technical updates and features for the latest release in 2021. It now offers full support for the IPv6 protocol, allowing for seamless integration with next-generation internet networking technology. Additionally, poundctl can now show status as an XML file. There's also a shutdown grace period that allows Pound to accept requests for existing sessions while blocking any new requests before shutting down.
In summary, Pound is an excellent software solution for users seeking a comprehensive and reliable reverse load balancer, HTTP proxy, and SSL wrapper that can distribute requests among multiple servers. Its ability to keep session information intact, sanitize requests, and offer various session types make it a worthy option for configuration. The new release only makes Pound a more commendable software utilities option, with added features and bug fixes for better performance.
One of the most notable features of Pound is its functionality as a reverse-proxy, which can forward requests from client browsers to one or more backend servers. Additionally, it functions as a load balancer, which helps distribute requests from the client browser among multiple backend servers while keeping session information intact. The SSL wrapper functionality of Pound enables it to decrypt HTTPS requests from client browsers and forward them as plain HTTP to backend servers. Moreover, it verifies the authenticity of the requests and only accepts well-formed ones to ensure better overall security.
If any of the backend servers fail, Pound can serve as a fail-over server and take note of the problem, stopping any further requests to that server and redirecting them to another server as per the requested URL. The software also offers support for various session types, including PARM session type, now available for tracking based on HTTP parameters.
Pound has undergone several technical updates and features for the latest release in 2021. It now offers full support for the IPv6 protocol, allowing for seamless integration with next-generation internet networking technology. Additionally, poundctl can now show status as an XML file. There's also a shutdown grace period that allows Pound to accept requests for existing sessions while blocking any new requests before shutting down.
In summary, Pound is an excellent software solution for users seeking a comprehensive and reliable reverse load balancer, HTTP proxy, and SSL wrapper that can distribute requests among multiple servers. Its ability to keep session information intact, sanitize requests, and offer various session types make it a worthy option for configuration. The new release only makes Pound a more commendable software utilities option, with added features and bug fixes for better performance.
What's New
Version 2.4: N/A