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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteAn application delivery controller (ADC) is a network device or software service that manages traffic between clients and application servers. It can distribute requests across servers, check their health, and apply configured routing or security policies. Load balancing is central to the role, but it does not describe every capability an ADC may provide.
How an ADC works
An ADC sits in the request path between users and the servers running an application. A client sends a request to the ADC; the ADC evaluates it against configured rules, selects an appropriate backend, and forwards the request. It can also monitor backend health and stop sending traffic to a server that fails its configured checks.
In a common deployment, the ADC is positioned between the firewall and one or more web or application servers. The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services describes this arrangement alongside functions such as load balancing, health checks, high availability, SSL offloading, and application firewall management (Connecticut DAS overview).
What an ADC can do
Capabilities vary by product, edition, and configuration. Common or available functions include:
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- Load balancing: Distribute incoming requests among multiple servers according to a policy.
- Health monitoring: Check whether backends are responding and direct traffic away from unavailable servers, according to configured checks.
- Layer 7 routing: Route application requests based on information such as the requested host or path, where supported and configured.
- TLS handling: Some ADCs terminate encrypted client connections or offload TLS processing from application servers.
- Proxying and security controls: Some products provide reverse-proxy functions, application security policies, or traffic visibility.
These capabilities are not guarantees that every ADC includes every feature, or that a feature is enabled by default. Availability and behavior depend on the specific product and its configuration.
How an ADC differs from a load balancer or reverse proxy
A traditional load balancer distributes traffic among servers. An ADC usually includes load balancing and may also provide broader application-aware routing, TLS handling, health monitoring, security policy, and visibility. F5’s 2024 training material cautions that describing an ADC simply as an “advanced load-balancer” is inadequate (F5 glossary).
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A reverse proxy accepts requests on behalf of servers and can process them at the application layer. That role overlaps with what many ADCs do. These labels are therefore not mutually exclusive categories: when comparing products, focus on the functions they actually provide rather than the name alone.
How ADCs are deployed
ADCs can be delivered as dedicated hardware appliances, software or virtualized systems, or services designed for cloud and SaaS environments. The right form depends on the application architecture and the team’s operating environment; availability of particular deployment models varies by provider and product (F5 glossary; Citrix ADC overview).
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- 【SDN Compatibility】For SDN usage, make sure your devices/controllers are either equipped with or can be upgraded to SDN version. SDN controllers work only with SDN Gateways, Access Points & Switches. Non-SDN controllers work only with non-SDN APs. For devices that are compatible with SDN firmware, please visit TP-Link website.
What to consider when choosing one
For an actual deployment, compare the needs of the application with the capabilities and operating model of each option:
- Deployment form: hardware, virtual or software-based, cloud, or SaaS.
- Expected traffic and how the system must scale.
- Required functions, such as health checks, Layer 7 routing, TLS termination, or security controls.
- Policy configuration and integration with the existing network and application environment.
- Monitoring and visibility available to the operations team.
- Whether the team can operate and maintain that deployment model.
An ADC does not automatically make an application secure or highly available. Those outcomes depend on appropriate configuration and the wider system architecture.
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