04-03-2003 07:58 PM - edited 02-20-2020 10:40 PM
We are adding a second PIX 515 with a FO license as a failover device.
I am concerned about what will happen in the event of a failover. Specifically, the documentation says to not use a FO device as a standalone because it will automatically reboot once every 24 hours. What will happen if I am out of town for 1 week, and the power supply of the primary device dies. Will the secondary device be rebooting every 24 hours because it thinks it is now being used as a stand-alone device? The primary device is "gone" now, after all. Or, will the FO device run for an indefinite period of time without rebooting?
04-03-2003 09:18 PM
As long as the failover cable stays connected, the FO unit detects this and knows that there is still a primary unit, even if it is powered down (the cable has a short in it somehow that detects that it's connected to a unit even if that unit has no power). In this situation, it won't reboot every 24 hours and you'll be fine.
The theory is that you get a replacement for the failed primary, but leave it cabled up while you're doing this so that the secondary knows there's still a PIX there. Then you can replace the failed unit at your leisure.
You can read all about failover here: http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/iaabu/pix/pix_sw/v_63/cmdref/df.htm#1067379
04-04-2003 05:21 AM
What about if you use an ethernet connection (crossover cable) for failover instead of the failover cable. Is this still the case?
Discover and save your favorite ideas. Come back to expert answers, step-by-step guides, recent topics, and more.
New here? Get started with these tips. How to use Community New member guide