RE: What's the point of this?

From: ccie2be (ccie2be@nyc.rr.com)
Date: Sun Apr 17 2005 - 09:02:52 GMT-3


Alsontra,

Thanks for getting back to me.

Although I appreciate your response, it didn't really address my question.

My question was about the command:

set ip DEFAULT next-hop verify-availability

In this command, we're using DEFAULT and verify-availability in the same
command. In other words, we are telling the router to verify the default
before we use it. So, what happens when the DEFAULT is not available?

By definition, a DEFAULT is what's used as a last resort. In your example,
you had a preferred next-hop which would be used if it's available and a
default next-hop if the preferred next-hop isn't available. That makes
sense.

Now, what happens when you add this command to your config.

set ip next-hop 1.1.1.1
set ip next-hop verify-availability
set ip default next-hop 2.2.2.2
set ip DEFAULT next-hop verify-availability

If the preferred next-hop isn't available, the router will check if the
DEFAULT is available.
If the DEFAULT isn't available, the packet is dropped whether you check if
the DEFAULT is available or not. So, what's the point?

The only difference I can see by verifying if the DEFAULT is available when
it's not is where the packet is dropped. But, either way the packet is
dropped.

Maybe that's all there is to that but I would appreciate any comments.

TIA, Tim

-----Original Message-----
From: alsontra [mailto:alsontra@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2005 1:44 PM
To: 'ccie2be'; 'Group Study'
Subject: RE: What's the point of this?

Tim,

There are at least two situations that demonstrate the point of this option.
(at least from my humble perspective.)

#1. Using only policy routing to create a DDR type solution.

set ip next-hop 1.1.1.1
set ip next-hop verify-availability
set ip default next-hop 2.2.2.2

In this form, the router will policy route all packets to 1.1.1.1 as long as
the adjacent router or 1.1.1.1 route destination is in the CDP table.

(set ip next-hop verify-availability uses cdp to verify adjacency)

When this route is not verifiable via CDP, all packets will be routed to
2.2.2.2... Thereby creating your backup solution.

#2. You can combine policy routing and normal routing to produce a hybrid
backup situation.

set ip next-hop 1.1.1.1
set ip next-hop verify-availability

ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 2.2.2.2

Once again, if the route to 1.1.1.1 is not verifiable all packets get routed
to 2.2.2.2. (pls note policy routing happens before normal routing)

(shooting from the hip)

HTH,
Alsontra

-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
ccie2be
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 11:53 AM
To: Group Study
Subject: What's the point of this?

Hi guys,
 
That prior question about conditional redist static got me thinking about
the verify-availability command.
 
In the Command Reference I found another command which also uses the
verify-availability.
 
set ip default next-hop x.x.x.x
set ip default next-hop verify-availability
 
What's the point of this?
 
Just think about this. If a certain next-hop is the default next-hop that
means this next-hop should be used if there's no other choice.
 
But, if there's no other choice, what happens if this default next-hop is
NOT available?
 
Doesn't this seem to be a contradiction?
 
Can someone provide an example where this command should be used and what
happens if the default next-hop is NOT available?
 
TIA, Tim



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