Why FHRP Matters
In a network, the default gateway plays a vital role by directing traffic from local devices toward external destinations. But if this gateway fails, all connected hosts lose connectivity. First Hop Redundancy Protocols (FHRP) solve this problem by providing automatic gateway backup and failover mechanisms, ensuring that traffic keeps flowing even when a router goes down.
Key FHRP Protocols
In this topic, you’ll explore how FHRP technologies such as Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), and Gateway Load Balancing Protocol (GLBP) maintain gateway redundancy and distribute traffic efficiently. Each protocol introduces unique methods to elect active and standby routers, share virtual IPs, and balance network load.
Building High Availability
By mastering FHRP, you’ll gain the ability to design highly available Layer 3 networks that minimize downtime and improve reliability. This knowledge directly complements advanced routing and switching concepts such as EtherChannel and Spanning Tree Protocol, where redundancy and failover mechanisms work together to keep networks resilient.