Router Redundancy Using XRRP 
Overview of XRRP Operation 
Overview of XRRP Operation 
XRRP allows you to configure pairs of switches to behave as backup routers 
for each other. Each pair of routers configured to operate this way is defined 
as a Protection Domain. (You can use the switches covered in this manual in 
any combination to create a Protection Domain.) If either router in the 
Protection Domain fails for whatever reason, the other router automatically 
takes over the routing function of the failed router. This transfer of the routing 
function is transparent to the host computers that are using the routers. 
Note  To accomplish this transfer, both routers in the Protection Domain must have 
identical network access so that each can get to all the same subnets and the 
same end nodes without going through each other. 
Figure 12-1 shows an example of a Protection Domain being used to provide 
redundant connectivity between some clients and the network servers that 
the hosts need to access. As part of the XRRP configuration, you define the 
identity of the Protection Domain. In figure 1, it is Domain 2. See “Configuring 
XRRP” on 
page 12-11 for information on how to configure XRRP. 
Figure 12-1.  XRRP Protection Domain 
The clients are connected to the routers through a Layer 2 switch (in this case 
an HP Procurve Switch 4108gl). 
12-3