VRRP load balancing mode configuration example

Network requirements

Switch A, Switch B, and Switch C belong to VRRP group 1 with the virtual IP address of 10.1.1.1/24.
Hosts on network segment 10.1.1.0/24 use 10.1.1.1/24 as their default gateway. Use the VRRP group to make sure that when a gateway (Switch A, Switch B, or Switch C) fails, the hosts on the LAN can access external networks through another gateway.
VRRP group 1 is operating in load balancing mode to make good use of network resources.
Configure a track entry on Switch A, Switch B, and Switch C to monitor their own VLAN-interface 3. When the interface on Switch A, Switch B, or Switch C fails, the weight of the corresponding switch decreases so that another switch with a higher weight can take over.
Configure track entries on Switch C to monitor Switch A and Switch B. When Switch A or Switch B fails, Switch C immediately takes over the AVF on Switch A or Switch B.
Figure 42: Network diagram

Configuration procedure

Configure Switch A:
# Configure VLAN 2.
```
<SwitchA> system-view
[SwitchA] vlan 2
[SwitchA-vlan2] port gigabitethernet 1/0/5
[SwitchA-vlan2] quit
```
# Configure VRRP to operate in load balancing mode.
```
[SwitchA] vrrp mode load-balance
```
# Create VRRP group 1 and configure its virtual IP address as 10.1.1.1.
```
[SwitchA] interface vlan-interface 2
[SwitchA-Vlan-interface2] ip address 10.1.1.2 24
[SwitchA-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 virtual-ip 10.1.1.1
```
# Set the priority of Switch A in VRRP group 1 to 120, which is higher than that of Switch B (110) and that of Switch C (100), so that Switch A can become the master.
```
[SwitchA-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 priority 120
```
# Configure Switch A to operate in preemptive mode, so that it can become the master whenever it operates properly; configure the preemption delay as five seconds to avoid frequent status switchover.
```
[SwitchA-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 preempt-mode timer delay 5
[SwitchA-Vlan-interface2]  quit
```
# Create track entry 1 to associate with the physical status of VLAN-interface 3 on Switch A. When the track entry becomes negative, it means that the interface fails.
```
[SwitchA] track 1 interface vlan-interface 3
```
# Configure VF tracking to monitor track entry 1 and specify the value by which the weight decreases, making the weight of Switch A decrease by more than 245 (250 in this example) when track entry 1 turns to negative. In such a case, another router with a higher weight can take over.
```
[SwitchA] interface vlan-interface 2
[SwitchA-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 weight track 1 reduced 250
```
Configure Switch B:
# Configure VLAN 2.
```
<SwitchB> system-view
[SwitchB] vlan 2
[SwitchB-vlan2] port gigabitethernet 1/0/5
[SwitchB-vlan2] quit
```
# Configure VRRP to operate in load balancing mode.
```
[SwitchB] vrrp mode load-balance
```
# Create VRRP group 1 and configure its virtual IP address as 10.1.1.1.
```
[SwitchB] interface vlan-interface 2
[SwitchB-Vlan-interface2] ip address 10.1.1.3 24
[SwitchB-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 virtual-ip 10.1.1.1
```
# Set the priority of Switch B in VRRP group 1 to 110, which is higher than that of Switch C (100), so that Switch B can become the master when Switch A fails.
```
[SwitchB-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 priority 110
```
# Set Switch B to operate in preemptive mode. The preemption delay is five seconds.
```
[SwitchB-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 preempt-mode timer delay 5
[SwitchB-Vlan-interface2] quit
```
# Create track entry 1 to associate with the physical status of VLAN-interface 3 on Switch B. When the track entry becomes negative, it means that the interface fails.
```
[SwitchB] track 1 interface vlan-interface 3
```
# Configure VF tracking to monitor track entry 1 and specify the value by which the weight decreases, making the weight of Switch B decrease by more than 245 (250 in this example) when track entry 1 turns to negative. In such a case, another router with a higher weight can take over.
```
[SwitchB] interface vlan-interface 2
[SwitchB-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 weight track 1 reduced 250
```
Configure Switch C:
# Configure VLAN 2.
```
<SwitchC> system-view
[SwitchC] vlan 2
[SwitchC-vlan2] port gigabitethernet 1/0/5
[SwitchC-vlan2] quit
```
# Configure VRRP to operate in load balancing mode.
```
[SwitchC] vrrp mode load-balance
```
# Create VRRP group 1 and configure its virtual IP address as 10.1.1.1.
```
[SwitchC] interface vlan-interface 2
[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] ip address 10.1.1.4 24
[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 virtual-ip 10.1.1.1
```
# Set Switch C to operate in preemptive mode. The preemption delay is five seconds.
```
[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 preempt-mode timer delay 5
[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] quit
```
# Create track entry 1 to associate with the physical status of VLAN-interface 3 on Switch C. When the track entry becomes negative, it means that the interface fails.
```
[SwitchC] track 1 interface vlan-interface 3
```
# Configure VF tracking to monitor track entry 1 and specify the value by which the weight decreases, making the weight of Switch C decrease by more than 245 (250 in this example) when track entry 1 turns to negative. In such a case, another router with a higher weight can take over.
```
[SwitchC] interface vlan-interface 2
[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 weight track 1 reduced 250
[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] quit
```
# Create track entries 2 and 3 to monitor Switch A and Switch B, respectively. If a track entry becomes negative, it indicates that the corresponding switch fails.
```
[SwitchC] bfd echo-source-ip 1.2.3.4
[SwitchC] track 2 bfd echo interface vlan-interface 2 remote ip 10.1.1.2 local ip 10.1.1.4
[SwitchC] track 3 bfd echo interface vlan-interface 2 remote ip 10.1.1.3 local ip 10.1.1.4 
```
# Configure VF tracking to monitor track entry 2. When track entry 2 becomes negative, the LVF on Switch C whose corresponding AVF is on the switch with the IP address of 10.1.1.2 immediately becomes active. Switch C takes over the AVF on Switch A.
```
[SwitchC] interface vlan-interface 2
[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 track 2 forwarder-switchover member-ip 10.1.1.2
```
# Configure VF tracking to monitor track entry 3. When track entry 2 becomes negative, the LVF on Switch C whose corresponding AVF is on the switch with the IP address of 10.1.1.3 immediately becomes active. Switch C takes over the AVF on Switch B.
```
[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] vrrp vrid 1 track 3 forwarder-switchover member-ip 10.1.1.3
```

Verify the configuration:

After the configuration, Host A can ping the external network. To verify your configuration, use the display vrrp verbose command.

# Display the detailed information about VRRP group 1 on Switch A.

[SwitchA-Vlan-interface2] display vrrp verbose
 IPv4 Standby Information:
     Run Mode       : Load Balance
     Run Method     : Virtual MAC
 Total number of virtual routers : 1
   Interface Vlan-interface2
     VRID           : 1               Adver Timer  : 1
     Admin Status   : Up              State        : Master
     Config Pri     : 120             Running Pri  : 120
     Preempt Mode   : Yes             Delay Time   : 5
     Auth Type      : None
     Virtual IP     : 10.1.1.1
     Member IP List : 10.1.1.2 (Local, Master)
                      10.1.1.3 (Backup)
                      10.1.1.4 (Backup)
   Forwarder Information: 3 Forwarders 1 Active
     Config Weight  : 255
     Running Weight : 255
    Forwarder 01
     State          : Active
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0011 (Owner)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1101
     Priority       : 255
     Active         : local
    Forwarder 02
     State          : Listening
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0012 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1103
     Priority       : 127
     Active         : 10.1.1.3
    Forwarder 03
     State          : Listening
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0013 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1105
     Priority       : 127
     Active         : 10.1.1.4
   Forwarder Weight Track Information:
     Track Object   : 1              State : Positive       Weight Reduced : 250

# Display the detailed information about VRRP group 1 on Switch B.

[SwitchB-Vlan-interface2] display vrrp verbose
 IPv4 Standby Information:
     Run Mode       : Load Balance
     Run Method     : Virtual MAC
 Total number of virtual routers : 1
   Interface Vlan-interface2
     VRID           : 1               Adver Timer  : 1
     Admin Status   : Up              State        : Backup
     Config Pri     : 110             Running Pri  : 110
     Preempt Mode   : Yes             Delay Time   : 5
     Become Master  : 4200ms left
     Auth Type      : None
     Virtual IP     : 10.1.1.1
     Member IP List : 10.1.1.3 (Local, Backup)
                      10.1.1.2 (Master)
                      10.1.1.4 (Backup)
   Forwarder Information: 3 Forwarders 1 Active
     Config Weight  : 255
     Running Weight : 255
    Forwarder 01
     State          : Listening
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0011 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1101
     Priority       : 127
     Active         : 10.1.1.2
    Forwarder 02
     State          : Active
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0012 (Owner)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1103
     Priority       : 255
     Active         : local
    Forwarder 03
     State          : Listening
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0013 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1105
     Priority       : 127
     Active         : 10.1.1.4
   Forwarder Weight Track Information:
     Track Object   : 1              State : Positive       Weight Reduced : 250

# Display the detailed information about VRRP group 1 on Switch C.

[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] display vrrp verbose
 IPv4 Standby Information:
     Run Mode       : Load Balance
     Run Method     : Virtual MAC
 Total number of virtual routers : 1
   Interface Vlan-interface2
     VRID           : 1               Adver Timer  : 1
     Admin Status   : Up              State        : Backup
     Config Pri     : 100             Running Pri  : 100
     Preempt Mode   : Yes             Delay Time   : 5
     Become Master  : 4200ms left
     Auth Type      : None
     Virtual IP     : 10.1.1.1
     Member IP List : 10.1.1.4 (Local, Backup)
                      10.1.1.2 (Master)
                      10.1.1.3 (Backup)
   Forwarder Information: 3 Forwarders 1 Active
     Config Weight  : 255
     Running Weight : 255
    Forwarder 01
     State          : Listening
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0011 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1101
     Priority       : 127
     Active         : 10.1.1.2
    Forwarder 02
     State          : Listening
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0012 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1103
     Priority       : 127
     Active         : 10.1.1.3
    Forwarder 03
     State          : Active
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0013 (Owner)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1105
     Priority       : 255
     Active         : local
   Forwarder Weight Track Information:
     Track Object   : 1              State : Positive       Weight Reduced : 250
   Forwarder Switchover Track Information:
     Track Object   : 2              State : Positive
       Member IP    : 10.1.1.2
     Track Object   : 3              State : Positive
       Member IP    : 10.1.1.3

The output shows that in VRRP group 1, Switch A is the master and Switch B and Switch C are the backups. Each switch has one AVF and two LVFs that act as the backups.

# When VLAN-interface 3 on Switch A fails, use the display vrrp verbose command to display the detailed information about VRRP group 1 on Switch A.

[SwitchA-Vlan-interface2] display vrrp verbose
 IPv4 Standby Information:
     Run Mode       : Load Balance
     Run Method     : Virtual MAC
 Total number of virtual routers : 1
   Interface Vlan-interface2
     VRID           : 1               Adver Timer  : 1
     Admin Status   : Up              State        : Master
     Config Pri     : 120             Running Pri  : 120
     Preempt Mode   : Yes             Delay Time   : 5
     Auth Type      : None
     Virtual IP     : 10.1.1.1
     Member IP List : 10.1.1.2 (Local, Master)
                      10.1.1.3 (Backup)
                      10.1.1.4 (Backup)
   Forwarder Information: 3 Forwarders 0 Active
     Config Weight  : 255
     Running Weight : 5
    Forwarder 01
     State          : Initialize
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0011 (Owner)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1101
     Priority       : 0
     Active         : 10.1.1.4
    Forwarder 02
     State          : Initialize
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0012 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1103
     Priority       : 0
     Active         : 10.1.1.3
    Forwarder 03
     State          : Initialize
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0013 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1105
     Priority       : 0
     Active         : 10.1.1.4
   Forwarder Weight Track Information:
     Track Object   : 1              State : Negative       Weight Reduced : 250

# Use the display vrrp verbose command to display the detailed information about VRRP group 1 on Switch C.

[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] display vrrp verbose
 IPv4 Standby Information:
     Run Mode       : Load Balance
     Run Method     : Virtual MAC
 Total number of virtual routers : 1
   Interface Vlan-interface2
     VRID           : 1               Adver Timer  : 1
     Admin Status   : Up              State        : Backup
     Config Pri     : 100             Running Pri  : 100
     Preempt Mode   : Yes             Delay Time   : 5
     Become Master  : 4200ms left
     Auth Type      : None
     Virtual IP     : 10.1.1.1
     Member IP List : 10.1.1.4 (Local, Backup)
                      10.1.1.2 (Master)
                      10.1.1.3 (Backup)
   Forwarder Information: 3 Forwarders 2 Active
     Config Weight  : 255
     Running Weight : 255
    Forwarder 01
     State          : Active
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0011 (Take Over)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1101
     Priority       : 85
     Active         : local
     Redirect Time  : 93 secs
     Time-out Time  : 1293 secs
    Forwarder 02
     State          : Listening
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0012 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1103
     Priority       : 85
     Active         : 10.1.1.3
    Forwarder 03
     State          : Active
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0013 (Owner)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1105
     Priority       : 255
     Active         : local
   Forwarder Weight Track Information:
     Track Object   : 1              State : Positive       Weight Reduced : 250
   Forwarder Switchover Track Information:
     Track Object   : 2              State : Positive
       Member IP    : 10.1.1.2
     Track Object   : 3              State : Positive
       Member IP    : 10.1.1.3

The output shows that when VLAN interface 3 on Switch A fails, the weight of the AVF on Switch A decreases to 5, which is lower than the lower limit of failure. All VFs on Switch A turn to initialized state and cannot be used for packet forwarding. The VF corresponding to MAC address 000f-e2ff-0011 on Switch C becomes the AVF, and Switch C takes over Switch A for packet forwarding.

# When the timeout timer (about 1800 seconds) expires, display the detailed information about VRRP group 1 on Switch C.

[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] display vrrp verbose
 IPv4 Standby Information:
     Run Mode       : Load Balance
     Run Method     : Virtual MAC
 Total number of virtual routers : 1
   Interface Vlan-interface2
     VRID           : 1               Adver Timer  : 1
     Admin Status   : Up              State        : Backup
     Config Pri     : 100             Running Pri  : 100
     Preempt Mode   : Yes             Delay Time   : 5
     Become Master  : 4200ms left
     Auth Type      : None
     Virtual IP     : 10.1.1.1
     Member IP List : 10.1.1.4 (Local, Backup)
                      10.1.1.2 (Master)
                      10.1.1.3 (Backup)
   Forwarder Information: 2 Forwarders 1 Active
     Config Weight  : 255
     Running Weight : 255
    Forwarder 02
     State          : Listening
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0012 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1103
     Priority       : 127
     Active         : 10.1.1.3
    Forwarder 03
     State          : Active
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0013 (Owner)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1105
     Priority       : 255
     Active         : local
   Forwarder Weight Track Information:
     Track Object   : 1              State : Positive       Weight Reduced : 250
   Forwarder Switchover Track Information:
     Track Object   : 2              State : Positive
       Member IP    : 10.1.1.2
     Track Object   : 3              State : Positive
       Member IP    : 10.1.1.3

The output shows that when the timeout timer expires, the VF corresponding to virtual MAC address 000f-e2ff-0011 is removed, and does not forward the packets destined for the MAC address any more.

# When Switch A fails, use the display vrrp verbose command to display the detailed information about VRRP group 1 on Switch B.

[SwitchB-Vlan-interface2] display vrrp verbose
 IPv4 Standby Information:
     Run Mode       : Load Balance
     Run Method     : Virtual MAC
 Total number of virtual routers : 1
   Interface Vlan-interface2
     VRID           : 1               Adver Timer  : 1
     Admin Status   : Up              State        : Master
     Config Pri     : 110             Running Pri  : 110
     Preempt Mode   : Yes             Delay Time   : 5
     Auth Type      : None
     Virtual IP     : 10.1.1.1
     Member IP List : 10.1.1.3 (Local, Master)
                      10.1.1.4 (Backup)
   Forwarder Information: 2 Forwarders 1 Active
     Config Weight  : 255
     Running Weight : 255
    Forwarder 02
     State          : Active
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0012 (Owner)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1103
     Priority       : 255
     Active         : local
    Forwarder 03
     State          : Listening
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0013 (Learnt)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1105
     Priority       : 127
     Active         : 10.1.1.4
   Forwarder Weight Track Information:
     Track Object   : 1              State : Positive       Weight Reduced : 250

The output shows that when Switch A fails, Switch B becomes the master because its priority is higher than that of Switch C.

# When Switch B fails, use the display vrrp verbose command to display the detailed information about VRRP group 1 on Switch C.

[SwitchC-Vlan-interface2] display vrrp verbose
 IPv4 Standby Information:
     Run Mode       : Load Balance
     Run Method     : Virtual MAC
 Total number of virtual routers : 1
   Interface GigabitEthernet1/0/1
     VRID           : 1               Adver Timer  : 1
     Admin Status   : Up              State        : Master
     Config Pri     : 100             Running Pri  : 100
     Preempt Mode   : Yes             Delay Time   : 5
     Auth Type      : None
     Virtual IP     : 10.1.1.1
     Member IP List : 10.1.1.4 (Local, Master)
   Forwarder Information: 2 Forwarders 2 Active
     Config Weight  : 255
     Running Weight : 255
    Forwarder 02
     State          : Active
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0012 (Take Over)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1103
     Priority       : 85
     Active         : local
     Redirect Time  : 93 secs
     Time-out Time  : 1293 secs
    Forwarder 03
     State          : Active
     Virtual MAC    : 000f-e2ff-0013 (Owner)
     Owner ID       : 0000-5e01-1105
     Priority       : 255
     Active         : local
   Forwarder Weight Track Information:
     Track Object   : 1              State : Positive       Weight Reduced : 250
   Forwarder Switchover Track Information:
     Track Object   : 2              State : Negative
       Member IP    : 10.1.1.2
     Track Object   : 3              State : Negative
       Member IP    : 10.1.1.3

The output shows that when Switch B fails, Switch C becomes the master, and Forwarder 02 on Switch C immediately becomes active. Switch C takes over the AVF on Switch B.

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