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Progress Kemp LoadMaster

progress.com

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Spec score 7.5 #8 of 32 in Load Balancing Software

What it is

Progress Kemp LoadMaster is an application delivery controller and server load balancer for managing application and user traffic. Its routing and delivery features include Layer 4 and Layer 7 balancing, persistence, health checks, SSL acceleration and offloading, and rule-based content switching. An integrated WAF covers protections such as OWASP Top Ten risks, SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and denial of service; other access controls include reverse proxy, single sign-on, pre-authentication, dual-factor authentication, IPS, and SSL bridging. GEO policies can direct clients to datacenters by location or proximity and support failover and failback. Progress offers hardware, virtual, and cloud forms, with on-premises and cloud deployment options. Cloud licenses can be pay-per-use, charged only for usage consumed, or perpetual BYOL. The temporary trial costs nothing for 30 days on the VLM-MAX model with Enterprise Plus Support, including ESP, WAF, and GEO. When that license expires, LoadMaster ceases to function; some features may also be lost if a permanent license has a different support tier.

Spec sheet

Purpose
LoadMaster is an application delivery controller and server load balancer that manages user traffic and applications.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Intended users
Progress describes the LoadMaster product family as serving businesses of all sizes and managed service providers.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Deployment
Progress describes LoadMaster as available in hardware, virtual, and cloud forms, and documents on-premises and cloud deployment options.Read 2 Oct 2026 · progress.com
Integrations
The documentation provides deployment guides for Microsoft, VMware, Omnissa, Dell EMC, Citrix, and Oracle workloads.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Security
The integrated WAF provides protections including OWASP Top Ten coverage, SQL injection protection, cross-site scripting mitigation, and denial of service mitigation.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Headquarters
Burlington, Massachusetts, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · progress.com
Founded
1981Read 28 Sep 2026 · progress.com
Access protection
LoadMaster security features include reverse proxy, single sign-on, pre-authentication, SMTP domain filtering, dual-factor authentication, IPS, and SSL bridging.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Cloud licensing
Cloud LoadMasters can use pay-per-use licensing or perpetual BYOL licenses, and pay-per-use charges apply only for usage consumed.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Core features
Its listed features include balancing methods, persistence, SSL acceleration and offloading, rule based content switching, health checking, GEO, WAF, SNMP, IPv6, and edge security.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Encryption
LoadMaster supports SSL 3.0, TLS 1.0, TLS 1.2, and TLS 1.3; virtual LoadMasters provide software SSL rather than hardware SSL.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Example workload
The Exchange 2019 deployment guide describes support for Exchange protocols and says LoadMaster can use Layer 7 health checking to reroute users from inaccessible components.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Geographic availability
GEO can direct clients to datacenters using policies based on location or proximity and supports failover and failback.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Support and trial limit
A temporary license expires after 30 days, at which point LoadMaster ceases to function; the trial uses Enterprise Plus Support, and some features may be lost when switching to a permanent license with a different support tier.Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com

Plans and prices

Temporary LoadMaster trial license Free 30 days · VLM-MAX model · Enterprise Plus Support, including ESP, WAF and GEO Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com
Permanent LoadMaster license Priced on request License available through a Progress Kemp partner, Sales, or the LoadMaster Upgrade option Read 2 Oct 2026 · docs.progress.com

Every Progress Kemp LoadMaster plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports Layer 4 and Layer 7 routing.
  • Integrated WAF includes OWASP Top Ten coverage.
  • GEO supports failover and failback.
  • Cloud pay-per-use charges only for consumed usage.

Limits

  • Temporary license expires after 30 days.
  • LoadMaster ceases to function when the trial expires.
  • Some features may be lost with a different support tier.

Who it suits

Progress describes the LoadMaster product family as serving businesses of all sizes and managed service providers. It suits teams managing application traffic across on-premises or cloud deployments.

Verdict

LoadMaster combines traffic management, application delivery, and security controls across hardware, virtual, and cloud forms. Check the temporary license's expiry and support-tier limits before relying on it beyond the trial.

Where Specifiction places it

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