RFC 3768 (rfc3768) - Page 1 of 27

Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)

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Network Working Group                                     R. Hinden, Ed.
Request for Comments: 3768                                         Nokia
Obsoletes: 2338                                               April 2004
Category: Standards Track


               Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   This memo defines the Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP).
   VRRP specifies an election protocol that dynamically assigns
   responsibility for a virtual router to one of the VRRP routers on a
   LAN.  The VRRP router controlling the IP address(es) associated with
   a virtual router is called the Master, and forwards packets sent to
   these IP addresses.  The election process provides dynamic fail over
   in the forwarding responsibility should the Master become
   unavailable.  This allows any of the virtual router IP addresses on
   the LAN to be used as the default first hop router by end-hosts.  The
   advantage gained from using VRRP is a higher availability default
   path without requiring configuration of dynamic routing or router
   discovery protocols on every end-host.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
       1.1.  Contributors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
       1.2.  Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       1.3.  Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   2.  Required Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       2.1.  IP Address Backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       2.2.  Preferred Path Indication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       2.3.  Minimization of Unnecessary Service Disruptions . . . .   5
       2.4.  Efficient Operation over Extended LANs. . . . . . . . .   6
   3.  VRRP Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
   4.  Sample Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7



Hinden                      Standards Track
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