Configuring a subordinate IPv4 VRRP group to follow a master IPv4 VRRP group
About master and subordinate IPv4 VRRP groups
Each VRRP group determines the device role (master or backup) by exchanging VRRP packets among member devices, which might consume excessive bandwidth and CPU resources. To reduce the number of VRRP packets in the network, you can configure a subordinate VRRP group to follow a master VRRP group.
A master VRRP group determines the device role through exchanging VRRP packets among member devices. A VRRP group that follows a master group, called a subordinate VRRP group, does not exchange VRRP packets among its member devices. The state of the subordinate VRRP group follows the state of the master group.
Restrictions and guidelines
To ensure the master router election, configure the settings such as the router priority, preemptive mode, and tracking function for the master IPv4 VRRP group. The settings are not required for subordinate IPv4 VRRP groups.
You can configure a subordinate VRRP group to follow a master VRRP group in both VRRP standard and load balancing modes. The configuration takes effect only in VRRP standard mode.
An IPv4 VRRP group cannot be both a master group and a subordinate group.
An IPv4 VRRP group stays in Inactive state if it is configured to follow a nonexistent master group.
If an IPv4 VRRP group in Inactive or Initialize state follows a master group that is not in Inactive state, the state of the VRRP group does not change.
A subordinate IPv4 VRRP group does not exchange VRRP packets, which might cause the MAC address entry for its virtual MAC address not to be updated on downstream devices. As a best practice, enable periodic sending of gratuitous ARP packets for IPv4 VRRP by using the vrrp send-gratuitous-arp command.
Procedure
Enter system view.
system-view
Enter interface view.
interface interface-type interface-number
Configure an IPv4 VRRP group as a master group and assign a name to it.
vrrp vrid virtual-router-id name name
By default, an IPv4 VRRP group does not act as a master group.
Return to system view.
quit
Enter interface view.
interface interface-type interface-number
Configure an IPv4 VRRP group to follow a master group.
vrrp vrid virtual-router-id follow name
By default, an IPv4 VRRP group does not follow a master VRRP group.