# Shared and Dedicated Load Balancers

*MuleSoft Platform Architect Study Guide · Deploying API implementations to CloudHub · Last updated November 13, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/mulesoft-platform-architect/deploying-api-implementations-to-cloudhub/shared-and-dedicated-load-balancers*

Select classic CloudHub entry services by certificate, routing and rate requirements, then account for DLB DNS transitions, buffering and administration.

- Certification: Salesforce MuleSoft Platform Architect
- Exam section: Deploying API implementations to CloudHub
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/mulesoft-platform-architect

**Official exam objective:**

> Identify the defining differences between the CloudHub Shared and Dedicated Load Balancers.

## What the exam expects

- Choose shared or dedicated load balancing for the required HTTP/HTTPS configuration.
- Trace which endpoint presents which certificate.
- Distinguish upstream rate limits, DNS transitions and response buffering from worker capacity.
- Review the administration and capacity of a dedicated load balancer separately from application workers.

A **shared load balancer** supplies the platform's basic entry service; a **DLB** is a configurable dedicated load balancer inside an Anypoint VPC; a **proxy rule** maps public domains to applications; **DNS TTL** bounds cached name information; **proxy buffering** temporarily holds a backend response ([Load balancers](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/dedicated-load-balancer-tutorial), [DLBs](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/cloudhub-dedicated-load-balancer)). These are classic CloudHub components.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shared configuration | Custom certificates and proxy rules are unavailable. | [Load balancers](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/dedicated-load-balancer-tutorial) |
| Dedicated prerequisite | Create an Anypoint VPC before using a DLB. | [DLBs](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/cloudhub-dedicated-load-balancer) |
| Certificate path | Shared service uses its own certificate; direct access uses the application's. | [Load balancers](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/dedicated-load-balancer-tutorial) |
| Regional rate limits | Shared thresholds can differ between regions; excess requests receive 429. | [Load balancers](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/dedicated-load-balancer-tutorial) |
| Address transition | Restart or update switches between static-IP groups. | [DLBs](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/cloudhub-dedicated-load-balancer) |
| Client behavior | Use DNS, honor TTL and include retries for the switch. | [DLBs](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/cloudhub-dedicated-load-balancer) |
| Buffering | Disable for a response with `X-Accel-Buffering: no`. | [DLBs](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/cloudhub-dedicated-load-balancer) |
| Capacity units | One DLB unit represents two load-balancer workers. | [DLBs](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/cloudhub-dedicated-load-balancer) |

## Check yourself

- Why must a custom header name containing a space be reviewed before blaming forwarding?
- When assigning DLB creation and configuration, which administration scope is required?
- Why must a DLB licensing unit be distinguished from one load-balancer worker?

## Sources

- [Dedicated Load Balancers](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/cloudhub-dedicated-load-balancer)
- [CloudHub Load Balancers](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/dedicated-load-balancer-tutorial)
- [Mapping Rules](https://docs.mulesoft.com/cloudhub/lb-mapping-rules)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 5 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the MuleSoft Platform Architect pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams