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Linux Virtual Server
What it is
Linux Virtual Server builds a cluster of real servers that users access as one virtual server. Its IPVS component performs transport-layer balancing inside the Linux kernel, directing TCP and UDP requests sent to a virtual service IP to real servers. Supported forwarding methods include NAT, FULLNAT, tunneling, and direct routing. The project lists web, cache, mail, FTP, media, and VoIP services as possible applications. Capacity can be adjusted by adding or removing cluster nodes; the system can detect node or daemon failures and reconfigure. Keepalived monitors server-pool state at layers 3, 4, and 5 and informs the kernel when a server is down. KTCPVS provides application-level balancing, but is described as under development. The software is free, GPL-licensed, and runs on Linux. The IPVS page directs administrators to ipvsadm, and documentation links configuration guides for NAT, tunneling, and direct routing, along with scheduling and high-availability material. The site lists an IPVS kernel 2.6 stable version from 2004 and an ipvsadm 1.26 download from 2011.
For and against
For
- Free, GPL-licensed Linux software
- Supports TCP and UDP balancing
- Offers NAT, FULLNAT, tunneling, and direct routing
- Can add or remove cluster nodes
- Keepalived monitors server-pool health
Against
- KTCPVS is still under development
- Listed IPVS stable version dates to 2004
- Listed ipvsadm download dates to 2011
The verdict
Linux Virtual Server provides kernel-level transport balancing and cluster availability features for Linux. Review the age of the listed downloads and the under-development status of KTCPVS when assessing it.
Who it suits
Linux Virtual Server suits administrators building Linux server clusters for services such as web, mail, or VoIP. It may fit deployments needing transport-layer balancing and cluster health monitoring.
Plans and prices
Linux Virtual Server
GPL-licensed software · runs on Linux
Read 9 Oct 2026 · linuxvirtualserver.org
On the record
- Administration
- The IPVS page directs users to ipvsadm to administer IPVS in the Linux kernel.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Community support
- The project lists user and development mailing lists for questions, problem reports, user help, and release notifications.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Forwarding methods
- The home page says IPVS supports FULLNAT in addition to NAT, tunneling, and direct routing.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Guides
- The documentation page links instructions for NAT, tunneling, and direct-routing configurations, along with scheduling, high-availability, and DoS-defense documents.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Health monitoring
- The software page says Keepalived checks server-pool state at layers 3, 4, and 5, and informs the kernel to remove a server when it is down.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- IPv6
- The IPVS page says IPv6 support was included in Linux kernel 2.6.28-rc3.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Layer 4 balancing
- IPVS performs transport-layer load balancing inside the Linux kernel and directs TCP/UDP service requests to real servers behind a virtual service IP.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Layer 7 component
- KTCPVS implements application-level load balancing inside the Linux kernel and is described as under development.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The site says its kernel patches and related programs are released under the GNU General Public License.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Notable age of downloads
- The IPVS page labels version 1.2.1 as the latest stable version for kernel 2.6 and dates it to 2004; its listed ipvsadm 1.26 download is dated 2011.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Project history
- The software page says the site was created on 1998-05-28.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Linux Virtual Server builds a scalable, highly available server from a cluster of real servers, presented to users as one virtual server.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Scaling and availability
- The introduction says capacity can be scaled by adding or removing cluster nodes, while availability is provided by detecting node or daemon failures and reconfiguring the system.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- The project lists scalable web, cache, mail, FTP, media, and VoIP services as applications.linuxvirtualserver.org · read 9 Oct 2026
