HAProxy is a TCP/HTTP reverse proxy which is particularly suited for high availability environments. Indeed, it can: - route HTTP requests depending on statically assigned cookies - spread load among several servers while assuring server persistence through the use of HTTP cookies - switch to backup servers in the event a main one fails - accept connections to special ports dedicated to service monitoring - stop accepting connections without breaking existing ones - add, modify, and delete HTTP headers in both directions - block requests matching particular patterns - report detailed status to authenticated users from a URI intercepted from the application