What is the best way to synchronize load-balanced IIS boxes?

We have approx 9 million files on each box, with more files added regularly

[alpine]

We want to be able to update one box, and push the changes automatically. It seems like some OS-level syncing product is needed, as periodic backup apps just can't handle the quantity efficiently, and want to check the whole box, not just move changed or added files as they are changed.

We've tried Microsoft Application Center, but it didn't work and seems outdated. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[aspdaddy]

why not load balance the access rather than mirror the content.

Or use a RAID config that gives you good concurrent reads.

Or use DFS for IIS.

Just some ideas, but I'm not too sure what the actual problem is you are trying to solve, the best way to do it is the one that solves your specific problems.

[Easy_Coder]

Or use DFS for IIS

Have you actully pulled this off? That's a pretty cleaver idea. So, could I set up like 4 load balanced IIS boxes that all read from the DFS?

I've tried load balancing in the past but I got into trouble with com+ stuff related to Commerce Server.

[aspdaddy]

Iv never tried it but there is a microsoft article about it. I would only do it on a limited number of folders that have high accesses.

I usually put ISA2004 cache in front of a busy webserver with loads of RAM to get a more flexible solution, I dont like mirroring content. The config options with ISA are good .

I have found with windows servers you can choose to put the bottleneck where you want really and content mirroring is something I havent done other than with Compaq hardware raid arrays. Id just rather shape the funnel in rather than out if you follow :) It just feels less complicated!

[alpine]

We want to mirror the content so we have redundancy, though it is RAIDed as well.

I'm looking for something with an OS level functionality, to listen for file changes, and replicate/mirror them. I don't want something that requires a periodic sync.

Thanks.

[aspdaddy]

What you are describing is best done with RAID IMO.

[carguy84]

But RAID won't help with load balancing if a mobo dies or you need to reboot a server to apply windows updates or something.

What are the files that are being added, images I presume? If so, I'd create a server where images are added to it first, almost like a staging server, and then have a process that copies those staged images to your production, load balanced, web servers. It can all happen in real-time too.

Chip-

[aspdaddy]

Sure there are loads of different solutions that all have strengths/weaknesses, thats why I asked the actual problem you are trying to solve.