wan links on router

[suthomas1]

Hi,

Our new location has two 2800-WAN router's. There will be two WAN links from different providers for backup(one primary & other secondary) in this location.

I have few doubts:-

1.Can we terminate both the links individually in two routers?

2.Is there a way to aggregate both link bandwidths together & use it during normal usage?

3.If one link fails, how would the other router know to start initiating traffic, is there any automatic way?

Appreciate all replies.

[Bilal Nawaz]

Hello,

Are these point to point links with your own routers at either side?
What kind of service is the 'WAN link'

You could use a dynamic routing protocol like OSPF, this would take care of load sharing (making use of both links) with equal cost routes and also take care of your resiliency.

Same could be achieved with static routing with some intelligent IP SLA tracking.

Just depends on what service it is, then we can give you better, more accurate answer.

Hope this helps

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[paul driver]

Hello

1.Can we terminate both the links individually in two routers?
Yes and run an (igp -rip-eigrp-ospf) and a first hop routing protocol such as hrsp/glbp between them for resiliency

2.Is there a way to aggregate both link bandwidths together & use it during normal usage?
If you mean the wan links then No -not between two different service providers

3.If one link fails, how would the other router know to start initiating traffic, is there any
As stated running enhanced object tracking with the above mentioned In item 1 would be applicable


Res
Paul

[suthomas1]

One of the wan link is point to point & other one is to the wan cloud.

Both these wan routers connect logically to a pair of ASA firewall downstream, in this case how would the traffic coming from core network understand where to route if one of the wan links fail?

[Leo Laohoo]

1.Can we terminate both the links individually in two routers?

Back in 2008, I was part of a team rolling out routers to upgrade existing FR connections to IP WAN.  So what we did was we ran HSRP between the two routers.  The HSRP address are the default gateways of the VLANs.  Now the link:  one link was costed so that traffic will always go one way.  The client had several applications which do not like outgoing traffic going one link and incoming traffic coming from another link.   Trying to get one ISP to accept your configuration proposal is one thing, getting two?  Not easy. 

[Bilal Nawaz]

Hang on.. is this for internet connectivity or is this for site connectivity? I dont quite understand the topology... I think all the questions raised are actually entirely possible.

1.Can we terminate both the links individually in two routers? YES

2.Is there a way to aggregate both link bandwidths together & use it during normal usage? YES

3.If one link fails, how would the other router know to start initiating traffic, is there any automatic way? YES

But questions I have are, what are these routers used for?

What are the WAN links providing for these routers? [Internet access or corporate access, is it for as site or the whole company]

What is connected to these routers? [on WAN and the LAN]

What is the purpose of these routers? [Internet based routers or routers providing connectivity for a LAN]

I think its fair to say once these questions are answered in full, we'll be in a position to give an accurate answer instead of assuming for now.

[Leo Laohoo]

Hang on.. is this for internet connectivity or is this for site connectivity?

Branch site has two routers.  Each router connects to an ISP.  Each routers has two tunnels:  One going to the primary DC and the 2nd tunnel goes to the secondary DC. 

The routers have a ethernetswitch module so we can connect the two via HSRP. 

The 2nd port of each router goes to a stack of 3750E.  Layer 3 Etherchannel. 

Does this answer your question?

[Bilal Nawaz]

Okay... But I didn't see internet service provider anywhere in the post...? Even though it might be the case. Where did the 3750E, etherswitch module and tunnel thing come from too? Have I missed a post somewhere?

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[suthomas1]

Both these routers/links are for site connectivity & not Internet.

I believe Leo described the downstream flow, with regards to 3750.

Thanks to both of you.

Can i please request for small snippets of configuration to achieve this, specifically the costing etc and how the link moves the second way when required. Any manual intervention required or so?

[Leo Laohoo]

specifically the costing

Costing would be irrelevant because we were the routers were 2800 and 3750E. 

Another thing is our ISP's, Telstra and Optus, are notoriously charges an arm-and-a-leg for a pathetic link. 

Configuration, hmmmmm ... Gotta look for them.

[Bilal Nawaz]

I would disagree that costing/metrics are irrelevant, I think it makes the entire solution work.

Please rate useful posts & remember to mark any solved questions as answered. Thank you.

[paul driver]

Hello Bilal

"Our new location has two 2800-WAN router's. There will be two WAN links from different providers for backup(one primary & other secondary) in this location"

I interrupted this as two service providers!

"2.Is there a way to aggregate both link bandwidths together & use it during normal usage?"

I answered No but your answer was Yes - Do you mean you can aggregate wan links from two different routers running on different service providers?

Can you clarify what you mean on this.

Res
Paul

[Bilal Nawaz]

Hello Paul,

If you look at the requirement which was 'aggregate both link bandwidths together' you can via load sharing across these links. e.g. possible via equal cost routes or other methods...

I look at this from this point of view - as making use of both links since the reference was the 'bandwidth' side of it.

Hope that makes sense?

But yes, if its bundling physical nics together then no, not really possible i guess. It's just how the requirements were stated, we make different meanings out of it

Please rate useful posts & remember to mark any solved questions as answered. Thank you.

[Bilal Nawaz]

Also I'd like to mention and remind, one link is point to point. The service provider therefor can be taken out of this aspect to this particular link as this is connection from end to end.

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[paul driver]

Thanks for the clarification Bilal?

Res
Paul

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