Architecture Design question regarding GTM's

Hi Quintious,

 

 

The simplest way to think of the GTM is as a DNS Server (because in essence that is exactly what it is), but it has more intelligence.

 

 

There are several different ways to set them up (Delegate an entire DNS Zone to them - domain.com or delegate a sub-domain - application.domain.com). Either way, the request hits the GTM and it will then make an "intelligent" decision on what response it wants to give the client.

 

 

You can use Geo-Location to determine which Data Center is closer and send the client there, or you can do the more traditional Active / Standby. Either way, the response to the client is the IP Address of the LTM Virtual Server that you want the client to go to (just like DNS).

 

 

The GTM's are also not limited to just doing this for LTM's. They can do this for all types of devices.

 

 

I would recommend reading the following:

 

Overview of the Global Traffic Manager

 

Overview of BIG-IP GTM Topology records

 

 

Hope this helps.