Progress Kemp LoadMaster

What Progress Kemp LoadMaster is

Progress Kemp LoadMaster is an application delivery controller and server load balancer for directing user traffic to applications. It supports Layer 4 and Layer 7 routing, balancing methods, persistence, health checks, and rule-based content switching. SSL acceleration and offloading are among its capabilities; virtual LoadMasters use software SSL rather than hardware SSL. Supported protocols include SSL 3.0 and TLS 1.0, 1.2, and 1.3.

Its integrated WAF covers protections such as OWASP Top Ten risks, SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and denial of service. Other security controls include reverse proxy, single sign-on, pre-authentication, dual-factor authentication, IPS, and SSL bridging. GEO policies can route clients to datacenters by location or proximity and support failover and failback.

Progress offers hardware, virtual, and cloud deployment forms, with on-premises and cloud options. Cloud customers can choose pay-per-use licensing, charged for consumed usage, or perpetual BYOL. Deployment guides cover Microsoft, VMware, Omnissa, Dell EMC, Citrix, and Oracle workloads. The temporary VLM-MAX trial is free for 30 days and includes Enterprise Plus Support, ESP, WAF, and GEO. After 30 days the license expires and LoadMaster stops functioning; changing to a permanent license with a different support tier may remove some features.

Who it suits

LoadMaster suits businesses of different sizes and managed service providers that need traffic distribution, application health checks, or security controls. Its hardware, virtual, and cloud deployment options serve teams choosing among on-premises and cloud environments.

Limits

The temporary trial license lasts 30 days and LoadMaster stops functioning when it expires. It includes Enterprise Plus Support, ESP, WAF, and GEO; some features may be lost when moving to a permanent license with a different support tier.

Getting started

1. Visit the Progress LoadMaster website.
2. Choose a hardware, virtual, or cloud deployment form and review the deployment options.
3. Start with the 30-day VLM-MAX temporary trial license at no cost, or pursue a permanent license through a Progress Kemp partner, Sales, or LoadMaster Upgrade.
4. For cloud use, select pay-per-use licensing or perpetual BYOL.

Verdict

Choose LoadMaster if you need Layer 4 and Layer 7 traffic management alongside WAF and access protections. Its trial provides a defined 30-day evaluation, but the license stops functioning at expiry, and permanent licensing requires contacting Progress or a partner.