300-420 Question 68
Single answerAn enterprise network is being designed to provide high availability at the distribution layer of a campus network. The design must ensure minimal downtime and seamless failover for default gateway functionality in case of a device failure. Which First Hop Redundancy Protocol (FHRP) should be implemented to meet these requirements while also allowing load sharing between the distribution layer switches?
- A
Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP)
- B
Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)
- C
Gateway Load Balancing Protocol (GLBP)
- D
Static routing with multiple default gateways
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Gateway Load Balancing Protocol (GLBP) is the most suitable FHRP for this scenario because it not only provides high availability by ensuring seamless failover in case of device failure but also supports load sharing. This allows active use of multiple distribution layer switches, improving resource utilization. Other protocols like HSRP and VRRP ensure high availability but lack native load-sharing capabilities, making them less optimal for this specific requirement.
- A. Incorrect.
HSRP is a Cisco-proprietary FHRP that provides high availability by designating an active and standby gateway, but it does not natively support load sharing.
- B. Incorrect.
VRRP is an open standard FHRP that offers similar functionality to HSRP, focusing on active/standby gateway roles but without support for load sharing.
- C. Correct.
GLBP is a Cisco-proprietary FHRP that provides high availability and supports load sharing by allowing multiple devices to actively forward traffic as part of a single virtual gateway group.
- D. Incorrect.
Static routing with multiple default gateways does not provide dynamic failover or load sharing capabilities, making it unsuitable for high availability in a campus network design.