The Network Dispatcher function balances traffic load among multiple mail, news, Web, or TN3270E servers as illustrated in Figure 1-7.
Figure 1-7. Network Dispatcher
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When a target server is another IBM 2212 or an IBM 2210 Nways Multiprotocol Router, 2216 Nways Multiaccess Connector, or Network Utility, a set of Advisors query the servers and analyze the results to determine the best distribution of incoming traffic. The Advisors facilitate FTP, HTTP, MVS, SMTP, NNTP, POP3, TN3270E server, and Telnet traffic.
In high-availability scenarios where a second IBM 2212 is used for backup, the two Network Dispatchers synchronize connection and reachability databases. In the event of a failure, the standby IBM 2212 promptly takes over traffic using an IP Takeover function.