How to Build a Dual-Master LVS High‑Availability Cluster with Keepalived
This guide walks through the principles of Keepalived, its VRRP‑based architecture, and step‑by‑step configuration of a dual‑master LVS high‑availability cluster, covering prerequisites, installation, keepalived setup, real server configuration, testing failover, and handling complete node failures.
Introduction
Based on Keepalived, this article explains how to implement an LVS dual‑master high‑availability cluster. Keepalived ensures services stay online by providing high availability or hot‑standby, preventing single‑point failures.
Keepalived Overview
Keepalived uses the Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) to achieve software‑based multi‑node hot‑standby on Linux. A VRRP group shares a virtual IP; only one master serves traffic while others stay redundant, ready to take over based on priority.
How It Works
Core : launches and maintains the main process, loads global configuration. Check : performs health checks (HTTP, LVS, etc.) and parses related configs. VRRP : implements the VRRP protocol for failover. libip* : provides LVS‑related functionality.
High‑Availability Solution
Experimental Topology
Configuration Process
Prerequisites: time synchronization, hostname‑based communication, SSH trust.
Ensure both nodes have synchronized time (e.g., using ntpdate).
Hostname Communication
SSH Trust
Install Required Programs
Configure Keepalived
Sync Configuration to the Other Node
Modify Configuration on the Second Node
Real Server Configuration
Kernel Parameters and VIP
Prepare Test Page
Test Page
Keepalived Node Emergency Page
Start Keepalived
Check IP and IPVS Rules on Both Nodes
Access Test
Simulate Master Node Failure
Check IP and IPVS Rules Again
After a master node goes down, all VIPs and IPVS rules migrate to the remaining node, so service access is uninterrupted. When the failed node returns, resources shift back automatically.
Simulate All Real Servers Failure
We then bring down both real‑server nodes to verify that the sorry_server takes over.
View IPVS Rules
Sorry Server Comes Online
The sorry_server responds successfully, completing the Keepalived‑based LVS dual‑master high‑availability experiment.
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