Which load balancing algorithm involves distributing traffic based on the number of active connections?

The Least Connectivity load balancing algorithm is designed to distribute traffic by directing requests to the server with the fewest active connections at any given point. This method aims to enhance performance and resource utilization by ensuring that servers handling incoming requests are not overwhelmed.

This algorithm is particularly effective in high-traffic environments where servers may have varying capacities or performance levels. By monitoring the active connections to each server, it can intelligently distribute incoming traffic in a manner that minimizes response time and maximizes throughput.

In contrast, algorithms like Round Robin evenly distribute connections across all servers regardless of their current load, which may lead to situations where some servers handle significantly more connections than others. Similarly, Weighted Round Robin assigns connection distribution based on pre-defined server weights but again does not account for active connections at the moment. IP Hash directs traffic based on a hash of the client's IP address, which can lead to uneven distribution of traffic and doesn’t consider current connection counts.

In summary, the effectiveness of the Least Connectivity algorithm lies in its responsiveness to the real-time load on each server, thereby optimizing the overall performance of the system.