What does a load balancer typically manage?

• A. Application updates and patches
• B. Network traffic across servers
• C. User authentication processes
• D. Data storage solutions

Answer: (B)

A load balancer is a critical component in network management that specifically handles the distribution of incoming network traffic across multiple servers. This process is essential for ensuring that no single server becomes overwhelmed with requests, which can lead to performance bottlenecks or failures. By efficiently managing the traffic load, a load balancer enhances the availability and reliability of applications, allowing for seamless user experiences, particularly during high-demand periods.

Load balancers can employ various algorithms for traffic distribution, such as round-robin or least connections, to optimize resource usage and maintain service uptime. They can also perform health checks on servers to ensure that traffic is only directed to those that are operational, further contributing to overall system resilience.

The other options represent different technological processes that do not fall under the load balancer's primary function. Application updates and patches relate to software maintenance, user authentication processes pertain to security management, and data storage solutions involve managing databases or file storage systems. Each of these areas requires distinct tools and strategies apart from load balancing.