Designated Router And Backup Designated Router
A designated router (DR) is a router in a network that is responsible for forwarding packets to other networks. The designated router is elected by the routers in the network. The designated router is responsible for maintaining the routing table and sending out periodic updates.
A backup designated router (BDR) is a router in a network that is used as a backup for the designated router. If the designated router fails, the backup designated router will take over. The backup designated router is also responsible for maintaining the routing table and sending out periodic updates.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction to Designated Router and Backup Designated Router
- 2 Understanding OSPF Network Topology
- 3 Designated Router (DR) Selection Process
- 4 Backup Designated Router (BDR) Selection Process
- 5 DR and BDR Election Criteria
- 6 DR and BDR Configuration and Maintenance
- 7 OSPF Network Scalability and DR/BDR Optimization
- 8 Conclusion and Best Practices for DR/BDR Implementation.
Introduction to Designated Router and Backup Designated Router
A designated router (DR) is a router that is responsible for initiating and maintaining the spanning tree in a network. The backup designated router (BDR) is the router that assumes the role of the DR if the DR fails.
The primary purpose of the DR and BDR is to prevent loops in the spanning tree. In the event that the DR fails, the BDR will take over and maintain the spanning tree. This prevents the network from becoming unstable or partitioned.
The DR and BDR are elected based on the bridge priority. The bridge priority is a configurable value that is used to identify the router as a potential DR or BDR. The higher the bridge priority, the more likely the router is to be elected as the DR or BDR.
By default, the bridge priority is set to 32,768 on Cisco routers. This can be changed using the priority command.
The DR and BDR are also elected based on the MAC address of the router. The router with the lowest MAC address is elected as the DR or BDR.
If there is a tie between two routers for the DR or BDR role, the bridge priority is used to break the tie. The router with the higher bridge priority is elected as the DR or BDR.
The DR and BDR are elected every time the network comes up. The DR and BDR roles can also be manually assigned using the standby command.
The following steps are used to elect the DR and BDR:
1. The bridge priority is compared between all of the routers in the network.
2. The router with the highest bridge priority is elected as the DR or BDR.
3. If there is a tie between two routers, the MAC address of the routers is compared.
4. The router with the lowest MAC address is elected as the DR or BDR.
5. If there is still a tie, the bridge priority is used to break the tie. The router with the higher bridge priority is elected as the DR or BDR.
Understanding OSPF Network Topology
A designated router (DR) is elected on every multi-access network using the OSPF routing protocol. The DR’s primary responsibility is to manage the flooding of link state advertisements (LSAs) on the network. Backup designated routers (BDRs) are also elected, but their role is limited to backup should the DR fail.
The election of a DR and BDR is based on the router’s priority and the IP address of the router’s interface on the network. By default, the priority is set to 1, but can be set to a higher value if needed. The router with the highest IP address on the network will become the DR, with the next highest becoming the BDR.
If the DR or BDR fails, a new election is held to elect a new DR or BDR. The new DR will keep the old DR’s priority, while the new BDR will have a priority of 0.
In order for the DR and BDR to be effective, they must be aware of the network topology. The DR and BDR use the Hello protocol to learn about the other routers on the network.
The Hello protocol is a multicast message that is sent out every 10 seconds on all multi-access networks. The message contains the router’s priority, IP address, and the list of routers that it is aware of.
When a router receives a Hello message, it will add the router’s information to its own list of routers. If the router’s priority is higher than the priority in the Hello message, the router will assume that it is the DR or BDR.
If the router’s IP address is higher than the IP address in the Hello message, the router will assume that it is the DR or BDR.
By default, the Hello message is sent to all routers on the network, but it can be limited to a specific subset of routers.
The Hello message is also used to determine the router’s dead time. The dead time is the amount of time that must elapse before the router declares the other router to be down.
The default dead time is 4 minutes.
Designated Router (DR) Selection Process
A designated router (DR) is a router in a network that acts as the focal point for traffic from other routers in the network. The DR is responsible for sending traffic to other routers in the network and for receiving traffic from other routers in the network.
There is a backup designated router (BDR) in a network as well. The BDR is the second-highest priority router in the network and is responsible for taking over the role of DR if the DR fails.
The selection of the DR and BDR is an important process in a network. The selection of the DR and BDR must be done in a way that ensures that the network is always operational.
The selection of the DR and BDR is done through a process of election. The election process is done by measuring the link state of the routers in the network. The router with the highest link state is elected as the DR. The router with the second-highest link state is elected as the BDR.
If the DR or the BDR fails, the other router will take over the role of DR or BDR, depending on its link state.
Backup Designated Router (BDR) Selection Process
In a redundant network, two or more devices are configured to act as backup for each other in the event that one of them fails. In a two-node network, the devices are typically called primary and secondary. In a three-node network, they are typically called primary, secondary, and tertiary.
A designated router (DR) is a router that is elected to forward packets in the event that the primary router fails. The backup designated router (BDR) is the router that is elected to take over for the designated router in the event that it fails.
The process of electing a designated router and backup designated router is known as the designated router election process.
The designated router election process is a set of steps that is followed to determine which router will become the designated router.
The steps that are followed in the designated router election process are:
1. The routers initialize
2. The routers determine their priority
3. The routers send Hello messages
4. The routers elect a designated router
5. The routers elect a backup designated router
1. The routers initialize
The routers initialize by setting their initial state to INIT.
2. The routers determine their priority
The routers determine their priority by setting their priority value to the highest value that is available.
3. The routers send Hello messages
The routers send Hello messages to each other to determine their link state.
4. The routers elect a designated router
The routers elect a designated router by choosing the router with the highest priority value.
5. The routers elect a backup designated router
The routers elect a backup designated router by choosing the router with the second-highest priority value.
DR and BDR Election Criteria
In a network with a designated router (DR) and backup designated router (BDR), the election of these devices is critical. The following are the criteria that are used to determine who becomes the DR and BDR:
The router with the highest priority becomes the DR. If there is a tie, the router with the highest MAC address becomes the DR.
If the DR fails, the router with the highest priority becomes the BDR. If there is a tie, the router with the highest MAC address becomes the BDR.
DR and BDR Configuration and Maintenance
Designated Router and Backup Designated Router (DR and BDR) are two critical routers in a redundant network. The role of the DR and BDR is to keep the network up and running in the event that one of the routers fails. DR and BDR must be configured and maintained properly to ensure network redundancy.
The first step in configuring DR and BDR is to designate a primary router and a backup router. The primary router is responsible for forwarding packets and maintaining the network. The backup router is used to take over in the event that the primary router fails.
The next step is to configure the routers for their respective roles. The primary router must be configured as the DR, and the backup router must be configured as the BDR. This can be done using either the command line or a graphical user interface.
Once the routers are configured, the next step is to test the network. The best way to test the network is to simulate a failure. This can be done by unplugging the power from one of the routers or by disabling the interface on one of the routers.
If the network fails, the DR and BDR should take over and keep the network up and running. If the network does not fail, then the DR and BDR are not needed and can be disabled.
OSPF Network Scalability and DR/BDR Optimization
In an OSPF network, one or more routers are elected as designated routers (DRs). The role of the DR is to act as a coordinator for the exchange of routing information between routers in the network. A backup designated router (BDR) is also elected, and its role is to assume the duties of the DR if the DR fails.
The DR and BDR are elected based on the router’s priority value. The router with the highest priority value is elected as the DR, and the router with the second-highest priority value is elected as the BDR. If two or more routers have the same priority value, the router with the highest Router ID is elected as the DR, and the router with the second-highest Router ID is elected as the BDR.
The election of the DR and BDR is important for the scalability of an OSPF network. The DR and BDR are responsible for the exchange of routing information between routers in the network. If the DR or BDR fails, the other routers in the network will not be able to exchange routing information, which can impact the scalability of the network.
To improve the scalability of an OSPF network, you can use the DRBDR (designated router backup designated router) feature. With the DRBDR feature, you can configure two routers to act as the DR and BDR. If the DR fails, the BDR will assume the duties of the DR. This allows the network to continue to function if the DR fails.
You can configure the DRBDR feature on a per-area basis or on a per-network basis. When configuring the DRBDR feature on a per-area basis, you need to configure two routers to act as the DR and BDR for the area. When configuring the DRBDR feature on a per-network basis, you need to configure two routers to act as the DR and BDR for the network.
The DRBDR feature is supported on all Cisco routers that run the Cisco IOS software.
Conclusion and Best Practices for DR/BDR Implementation.
Designated Router and Backup Designated Router (DRBDR) is a term used in computer networking to describe a redundant pair of routers used to manage a network. The role of the DRBDR is to keep the network running in the event that one of the routers fails.
There are a few key things to consider when implementing a DRBDR solution:
1. Router selection – In order for a router to act as a DRBDR, it must be able to support HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol) or VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol).
2. Network configuration – The routers must be configured to operate in either primary or backup mode.
3. IP addressing – The routers must be assigned IP addresses that are on different subnets.
4. Network monitoring – The DRBDR solution must be monitored to ensure that it is functioning correctly.
There are a few best practices to follow when implementing a DRBDR solution:
1. Use a dedicated network for the DRBDR solution.
2. Use separate physical routers for the DRBDR solution.
3. Use separate VLANs for the DRBDR solution.
4. Verify that the DRBDR solution is functioning correctly.