Is Azure Load Balancer Basic really free?

Yes, the Basic SKU has no charge for load balancing rules. However, Basic lacks an SLA guarantee, does not support availability zones, has a 300-instance backend pool limit, and defaults to open network security. Microsoft recommends Standard for all production workloads.

What are the key differences between Basic and Standard?

Standard SKU adds availability zone support, 1,000-instance backend pools, HTTPS health probes, outbound rules, HA ports, a 99.99% SLA, and secure-by-default networking (backend VMs must have an NSG). Basic SKU is being retired for new deployments in many regions.

Can I upgrade from Basic to Standard without downtime?

Microsoft provides a migration tool that automates Basic to Standard Load Balancer upgrades. The process involves creating a new Standard LB, migrating configurations, and updating backend pool associations. Some brief connectivity interruption may occur during the final switchover.

Azure Load Balancer SKU Compare

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Compare Azure Load Balancer SKUs (Basic vs Standard) features and pricing.

Load Balancer SKU Comparison

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About This Tool

The Azure Load Balancer SKU Compare tool provides a detailed feature and pricing comparison between Azure Load Balancer Basic and Standard SKUs. It covers differences in backend pool size, health probes, availability zones, SLA guarantees, security posture, and cost. The tool helps you make an informed decision about which SKU to deploy for your workload.

When to Use This Tool

•Deciding whether to use Basic (free) or Standard (paid) Load Balancer for a new deployment.
•Understanding the security implications of migrating from Basic to Standard SKU.
•Evaluating Standard SKU requirements for availability zone redundancy.
•Planning a migration from Basic to Standard Load Balancer for production workloads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Azure Load Balancer Basic really free?: Yes, the Basic SKU has no charge for load balancing rules. However, Basic lacks an SLA guarantee, does not support availability zones, has a 300-instance backend pool limit, and defaults to open network security. Microsoft recommends Standard for all production workloads.
What are the key differences between Basic and Standard?: Standard SKU adds availability zone support, 1,000-instance backend pools, HTTPS health probes, outbound rules, HA ports, a 99.99% SLA, and secure-by-default networking (backend VMs must have an NSG). Basic SKU is being retired for new deployments in many regions.
Can I upgrade from Basic to Standard without downtime?: Microsoft provides a migration tool that automates Basic to Standard Load Balancer upgrades. The process involves creating a new Standard LB, migrating configurations, and updating backend pool associations. Some brief connectivity interruption may occur during the final switchover.

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Disclaimer: This tool runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to our servers. Always verify outputs before using them in production. AWS, Azure, and GCP are trademarks of their respective owners.