What is our primary use case?
The product is an open-source load balancer. We deploy it for our application as a front-end server where all the users come on that particular HAProxy server, and it is redirected to our back-end servers.
How has it helped my organization?
It helps include the reverse proxy or more security modules for enhancing security. It helps with enhancing web application security.
What is most valuable?
The solution is open-source.
HAProxy can provide protocol-level load balancing. We can use the HTTP or HTTPS load balancing, including the PCP and UDP protocol level load balancing.
The setup is straightforward.
It is scalable.
The solution is stable.
It's saved project costs and time. Since the deployment is very easy and the open-source functionality saves a huge amount of cost in terms of project deployment.
What needs improvement?
The product should have more security and dashboard functionality for monitoring so that any administrator can see the usability and track all the incoming and outgoing requests. It should have a better dashboard GUI, and more security models should be there. The GUI should be more responsive and show the detailed output of logs. We need it to be more visible.
Documentation could be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for around four years. We started using it in 2018.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's reliable and very stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's a scalable product.
There are more than 2,000 users on the product right now.
We already scaled up with the different sets, so we previously scaled this solution.
How are customer service and support?
I did not solicit the help of any technical support.
The documentation that's available on the HAProxy is okay. There is some room for improvement in that regard.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used a traditional load balancer.
We used a TCP load balancer. The NGNIX, we use for the reverse proxy for HTTP and HTTPS protocol. However, for particular applications, we required TCP load balancer, so we used HAProxy there.
HAProxy provides the TCP and UDP port protocol-based load balancing, and NGINX is the reverse proxy, providing a great solution for web traffic, HTTP, and HTTPS.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very simple and straightforward. It's not too complex.
One single administrator can manage and deploy this product.
What about the implementation team?
I handled the deployment of the product myself.
What was our ROI?
We just replaced some of our OEM solutions with an open-source solution. We did not invest anything in that, we just save the money on some OEM products. We have to purchase some load balancers, however, we replaced this with the open-source option and they are performing well. Therefore, there is a return on investment in the sense that we replaced that traditional load balancer that we paid for.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We do not need to pay for the product as it is open-source.
There's no additional cost. We can deploy and manage on our own, and community support is available in HAProxy.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated NGINX prior to using this product.
What other advice do I have?
If you require a TCP and UDP protocol for load balancing, this is a very great solution.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.