Geoproximity routing is an advanced Route 53 routing policy that directs traffic based on the geographic location of your resources and optionally shifts traffic from resources in one location to resources in another using a bias value.
Unlike geolocation routing which routes based on user locatio…Geoproximity routing is an advanced Route 53 routing policy that directs traffic based on the geographic location of your resources and optionally shifts traffic from resources in one location to resources in another using a bias value.
Unlike geolocation routing which routes based on user location, geoproximity routing considers the physical distance between users and your AWS resources or custom coordinates. This makes it ideal for scenarios where you want to route users to the nearest resource while having the flexibility to adjust traffic distribution.
Key components of geoproximity routing include:
**Bias Values**: You can specify a bias ranging from -99 to +99. A positive bias expands the geographic region from which traffic is routed to a resource, effectively attracting more traffic. A negative bias shrinks the region, pushing traffic away to other resources. A bias of zero means traffic is routed purely based on geographic proximity.
**Resource Types**: Geoproximity routing supports both AWS resources (where Route 53 automatically determines the resource location based on the AWS Region) and non-AWS resources (where you must specify latitude and longitude coordinates).
**Traffic Flow**: To use geoproximity routing, you must use Route 53 Traffic Flow, which provides a visual editor to create complex routing configurations. This is different from simple routing policies that can be configured through standard record sets.
**Use Cases**: Common applications include gradually migrating traffic between regions, load balancing across multiple geographic locations, and providing region-specific content while maintaining flexibility in traffic distribution.
For the SysOps Administrator exam, understand that geoproximity routing requires Traffic Flow policies, supports bias adjustments for fine-tuned control, and calculates routes based on the shortest distance between users and resources rather than predefined geographic boundaries.
Geoproximity Routing in AWS Route 53
What is Geoproximity Routing?
Geoproximity routing is a Route 53 routing policy that routes traffic to your resources based on the geographic location of your users AND the geographic location of your resources. This policy allows you to shift traffic from resources in one location to resources in another by defining a bias value.
Why is Geoproximity Routing Important?
Geoproximity routing is essential for several reasons:
• Traffic Distribution Control: You can expand or shrink the geographic region from which traffic is routed to a specific resource • Load Balancing: Helps distribute traffic more evenly across multiple regions • Disaster Recovery: Enables gradual traffic shifting between regions during failover scenarios • Cost Optimization: Route users to resources in regions with lower operational costs • Performance Optimization: Fine-tune routing to improve user experience based on actual infrastructure placement
How Does Geoproximity Routing Work?
Geoproximity routing uses a concept called bias to influence traffic routing:
• Bias Range: Values range from -99 to +99 • Positive Bias (+1 to +99): Expands the geographic region, attracting MORE traffic to that resource • Negative Bias (-1 to -99): Shrinks the geographic region, sending LESS traffic to that resource • Zero Bias (0): Routes traffic based purely on geographic proximity
Key Requirements:
• You MUST use Route 53 Traffic Flow to use geoproximity routing • Resources can be AWS resources (specify the AWS Region) or non-AWS resources (specify latitude and longitude) • Traffic Flow visual editor creates a traffic policy that you can reuse
Use Cases:
• Gradually migrating traffic from one region to another • Balancing load between data centers in different geographic areas • Routing traffic to the nearest resource while having the flexibility to adjust boundaries
Geoproximity vs Geolocation Routing:
• Geolocation: Routes based on user location to specific resources (strict boundaries) • Geoproximity: Routes based on proximity with adjustable bias (flexible boundaries)
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Geoproximity Routing
1. Remember the Bias Values: If a question mentions shifting traffic or expanding/shrinking geographic coverage, think geoproximity with bias
2. Traffic Flow Requirement: Any question involving geoproximity routing requires Route 53 Traffic Flow - this is mandatory
3. Keyword Recognition: Look for keywords like 'shift traffic,' 'bias,' 'expand geographic region,' or 'route based on resource location'
4. Distinguish from Geolocation: If the question requires strict geographic boundaries (country, continent, state), that's geolocation. If it requires flexible boundaries with traffic shifting capabilities, that's geoproximity
5. Non-AWS Resources: When routing to non-AWS resources, remember you need to specify latitude and longitude coordinates
6. AWS Resources: For AWS resources, you specify the AWS Region where the resource is located
7. Gradual Migration Scenarios: Questions about gradually moving traffic between regions typically point to geoproximity routing with bias adjustments
8. Cost Consideration: Traffic Flow policies incur additional costs - be aware of this in cost-optimization questions
9. Remember the Formula: Positive bias = more traffic, Negative bias = less traffic to that resource
10. Visual Editor: Traffic Flow provides a visual editor for creating complex routing configurations - this is often tested