Outbound and inbound direction

Question

Outbound and inbound direction

Li, Xinghai 0

A public load balancer can provide outbound connections for virtual machines (VMs) inside your virtual network.

For firewall, traffic from outside to inside normally called inbound traffic.

But for above description, it seems "outbound connections" means outside connection to internal, it the opposite to firewall.

Am I correct?

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/load-balancing-non-https-traffic-azure/3-design-implement-azure-load-balancer-using-azure-portal

Li, Xinghai 0 Reputation points

2023-12-13T00:14:44.4633333+00:00

Hi aatheeque, thanks.
I want to confirm, for the Public load balancer,
if the traffic is from outside internet to inside VMs, this traffic is called outbound or inbound?
if the traffic is from inside VMs to outside internet , this traffic is called outbound or inbound?
Thanks.
Abdul 2,650 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2023-12-13T05:22:07.7633333+00:00

Hi Li, Xinghai,

In the context of a Public Load Balancer,

1.Traffic from outside the internet to inside VMs are often called "inbound".

2.Traffic from inside VMs to outside the internet is often called "outbound".

If you are still facing any issues, please let us know in the comments.

Thankyou.
Abdul 2,650 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2023-12-14T07:46:51.0433333+00:00

Hi Li, Xinghai,

Just checking in to see if you had a chance to see my response to your question. Please tell us if it was helpful and feel free to reach out to us if you have any query.

Thankyou.
Abdul 2,650 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2023-12-15T06:17:54.0133333+00:00

Hi Li, Xinghai,

Just checking in to see if you had a chance to see my response to your question. Please tell us if it was helpful and feel free to reach out to us if you have any query.

Thankyou.
Li, Xinghai 0 Reputation points

2023-12-15T06:28:14.26+00:00

Hi aatheeque, in your reply,

"1.Traffic from outside the internet to inside VMs are often called "inbound".

Per my understanding, public load balancer normally used for users outside the internet connect to inside VMs, so this is inbound traffic.

I don't understand why it is call outbound as below from your web.
In your web, it says "A public load balancer can provide outbound connections for virtual machines (VMs) inside your virtual network."

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/load-balancing-non-https-traffic-azure/3-design-implement-azure-load-balancer-using-azure-portal
Abdul 2,650 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2023-12-15T09:25:25.6933333+00:00

Hi Li, Xinghai,

A public load balancer can provide outbound connections for virtual machines," it means the load balancer helps the VMs in your network when they're sending information out to the internet or other external places. The load balancer assists in managing and organizing this outgoing traffic.

"Outbound connections" means if you access the internet from Your Virtual Machine, then it will go through the Load Balancer and Your Virtual Machine IP will be Load balancer Public IP.

If you are still facing the issue to understand the content, please let us know in the comments.

Thank you.
Abdul 2,650 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2023-12-16T07:10:45.03+00:00

Hi Li, Xinghai,

Just checking in to see if you had a chance to see my response to your question. Please tell us if it was helpful and feel free to reach out to us if you have any query.

Thankyou.

1 answer

Your answer

Li, Xinghai 0 Reputation points

2023-12-13T00:14:44.4633333+00:00

Hi aatheeque, thanks.
I want to confirm, for the Public load balancer,
if the traffic is from outside internet to inside VMs, this traffic is called outbound or inbound?
if the traffic is from inside VMs to outside internet , this traffic is called outbound or inbound?
Thanks.
Abdul 2,650 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2023-12-13T05:22:07.7633333+00:00

Hi Li, Xinghai,

In the context of a Public Load Balancer,

1.Traffic from outside the internet to inside VMs are often called "inbound".

2.Traffic from inside VMs to outside the internet is often called "outbound".

If you are still facing any issues, please let us know in the comments.

Thankyou.
Abdul 2,650 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2023-12-14T07:46:51.0433333+00:00

Hi Li, Xinghai,

Just checking in to see if you had a chance to see my response to your question. Please tell us if it was helpful and feel free to reach out to us if you have any query.

Thankyou.
Abdul 2,650 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2023-12-15T06:17:54.0133333+00:00

Hi Li, Xinghai,

Just checking in to see if you had a chance to see my response to your question. Please tell us if it was helpful and feel free to reach out to us if you have any query.

Thankyou.
Li, Xinghai 0 Reputation points

2023-12-15T06:28:14.26+00:00

Hi aatheeque, in your reply,

"1.Traffic from outside the internet to inside VMs are often called "inbound".

Per my understanding, public load balancer normally used for users outside the internet connect to inside VMs, so this is inbound traffic.

I don't understand why it is call outbound as below from your web.
In your web, it says "A public load balancer can provide outbound connections for virtual machines (VMs) inside your virtual network."

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/load-balancing-non-https-traffic-azure/3-design-implement-azure-load-balancer-using-azure-portal
Abdul 2,650 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2023-12-15T09:25:25.6933333+00:00

Hi Li, Xinghai,

A public load balancer can provide outbound connections for virtual machines," it means the load balancer helps the VMs in your network when they're sending information out to the internet or other external places. The load balancer assists in managing and organizing this outgoing traffic.

"Outbound connections" means if you access the internet from Your Virtual Machine, then it will go through the Load Balancer and Your Virtual Machine IP will be Load balancer Public IP.

If you are still facing the issue to understand the content, please let us know in the comments.

Thank you.
Abdul 2,650 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2023-12-16T07:10:45.03+00:00

Hi Li, Xinghai,

Just checking in to see if you had a chance to see my response to your question. Please tell us if it was helpful and feel free to reach out to us if you have any query.

Thankyou.

Answer 1

Hi Li, Xinghai,

Thank you for reaching out to us on the Microsoft Q&A forum.

A Public load balancer can provide outbound connections for virtual machines (VMs) inside your virtual network.

A public load balancer can indeed help distribute outbound connections from virtual machines to external services. They are primarily used for handling incoming connections from external services.

"For Firewall traffic from outside to inside normally called inbound traffic."

Therefore, your statement is correct.

If you are still facing any issues, please let us know in the comments.

Thank you for helping to improve Microsoft Q&A!

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Outbound and inbound direction

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