CentOS 6.5 + Nginx + Tomcat Load Balancing Cluster

CentOS 6.5 + Nginx + Tomcat Load Balancing Cluster

I. Planning and Preparation

Before diving into the installation process, let’s outline the key components and steps involved in setting up a load balancing cluster using CentOS 6.5, Nginx, and Tomcat.

  1. Java Development Kit (JDK) Installation: We will install the JDK on our system to ensure that our Tomcat servers can run smoothly.
  2. Tomcat Installation: Next, we will install Tomcat on our system to serve as the web server.
  3. Nginx Dependent Libraries Installation: Before installing Nginx, we need to install its dependent libraries, which include PCRE-devel, OpenSSL-devel, and GCC.
  4. Nginx Installation: We will download and install the Nginx package from its official website.

II. Network Topology

Our load balancing cluster will consist of two Tomcat servers and one Nginx server. The Nginx server will act as the load balancer, distributing incoming requests across the two Tomcat servers.

III. JDK and Tomcat Installation

To install the JDK and Tomcat on our system, follow these steps:

  1. Install JDK: Please refer to the Java development environment under Linux for installation instructions.
  2. Install Tomcat: Once the JDK is installed, we can proceed with installing Tomcat.

IV. Nginx Dependent Libraries Installation

Before installing Nginx, we need to install its dependent libraries using the following command:

yum -y install pcre-devel openssl-devel gcc gcc-c++

V. Nginx Installation

To install Nginx, follow these steps:

  1. Download the Nginx package: Visit the official Nginx website to download the package.
  2. Unzip the package: Use the following command to unzip the package:
tar -zvxf nginx-1.8.1.tar.gz
  1. Configure and install Nginx: Run the following commands to configure and install Nginx:
./configure
make install
  1. Test the installation: Verify that Nginx is installed correctly by running the following command:
cd /usr/local/nginx/sbin/
./nginx -t
  1. Start Nginx: Once the installation is verified, start Nginx using the following command:
./nginx

Visit http://localhost to access the Nginx default page.

VI. Nginx + 2 Ge Tomcat Clusters

To configure Nginx to work with two Tomcat servers, follow these steps:

  1. Edit the Nginx configuration file: Use the following command to edit the Nginx configuration file:
vim /usr/local/nginx/conf/nginx.conf
  1. Restart Nginx: Once the configuration file is edited, restart Nginx to apply the changes:
nginx -s restart

VII. Testing the Load Balancing Cluster

To test the load balancing cluster, access http://192.168.1.20. You should see a load balancing page with two Tomcat servers serving different content.

VIII. Additional Commands

Here are some additional commands that you can use to manage the load balancing cluster:

  • Stop Nginx: nginx -s stop
  • Reload Nginx: nginx -s reload

This concludes our guide to setting up a load balancing cluster using CentOS 6.5, Nginx, and Tomcat. We hope that you have found this article helpful in your journey to deploy a load balancing cluster.