ReT-ELBa: A Novel Algorithm for Efficient Load Balancing in Cloud Computing

Abstract

This paper presents a novel load-balancing algorithm for balancing load on the cloud environment which we call Response Time Efficient Load Balancer (ReT-ELBa). Load balancing involves a dynamic and equal distribution of workloads among processors or Virtual Machines to achieve better resource utilisation. The study gives an insight into the design, implementation and evaluation of an enhanced load-balancing algorithm that allocates tasks across Virtual Machines on the cloud, which minimises Response Time and increases resource utilisation. The ReT-ELBa distributes tasks based on their sizes, the requirements for their executions, as well as the state of the Virtual Machines. The Cloud Analyst simulation tool was employed to simulate or evaluate various cases for the ReT-ELBa in comparison with the Throttled and Round Robin algorithms. The study revealed that the ReT-ELBa outperformed the two algorithms in relation to Response Time. The ReT-ELBa also outperformed the two algorithms in relation to Data Centre Processing Time for all simulated cases, except one (Case 3), which recorded a small difference of 0.07ms. Even the Response Time was the Primary focus of this research, the Data Centre Processing Time of the algorithm was also analysed to present a more elaborate representation of the performances of the algorithms.