Router Connection Redundancy

[ITGURU]

Looking for some suggestions if possible:

 

Our core switch is built up of 4 x switches in a ring stack topology, forming as 1 switch.

 

Our router is connected from the LAN port into switch 1 port.

 

All servers have teamed connections across the stack for redundancy in case of switch failure.

 

Ideally I'd like to have the router connected to 2 ports 1 in switch 1 and 1 in switch 2 for redundancy.

 

The only way I can see to do this, would be to add another point of failure by adding a switch in between so:

 

Router Lan Port > New Switch single Port > LACP 2 ports on new switch > connect 1 to switch 1 port, connect 1 to switch 2 port

 

So if switch 1 fails, i still have a wan connection, if switch 2 fails, i still have a wan connection

 

Any other ways to manage this for redundancy, without having to add another switch as a point of failure.

[Steve21]

How redundant do you want it in terms of time/downtime? I mean easiest option would just be configure one port on each switch for the Router, but just unplug it and move it across to the other one if the switch wobbles? Obviously not automatic, but assuming the issue is during on-site time, it's a second fix as it's already setup to go etc

 

In your example as you say it's just moving the issue down the line, if "new switch" breaks you have the exact same issue

 

(I mean I assume from your comments you only have a single port from said router? And I assume when you say router you mean internet wise, rather than internal?)

 

Steve

[ITGURU]

It's the manual part I want to get rid off as is at a remote site, not my primary site. If switch 1 fails the whole network will still run.

I have everything redundant apart from the WAN connection so i can lose a switch and not have to attend site immediate, plus the WAN is used for site-site communication.

Yes, unfortunately the router only have 1 Port, but a built in 4 port switch Cisco C1111 , so I might drop the provider an email see if they'll let me use them, so i can have redundant connections.

[SchoolsBroadband]

It's the manual part I want to get rid off as is at a remote site, not my primary site. If switch 1 fails the whole network will still run.

I have everything redundant apart from the WAN connection so i can lose a switch and not have to attend site immediate, plus the WAN is used for site-site communication.

Yes, unfortunately the router only have 1 Port, but a built in 4 port switch Cisco C1111 , so I might drop the provider an email see if they'll let me use them, so i can have redundant connections.

 

Hi @ITGURU,

 

Most ISP's should be able to offer you a redundant connection over 2 routers via use of a floating gateway IP using HSRP or VRRP. If you contact your current provider I'm sure they can assist.

 

Thanks

 

Dave

[Steve21]

Aye, only real way of getting that kind of setup is using multiple ports on the router, else you'll always have a single failure point (Unless you go down the entire backup internet line route)

 

When you say it's only got 1 port, but a built in 4 port, do you mean it's only got 1 external (To the grid/internet etc?) If you got a 4 port internally you should be able to team with those and split it across your core as you say, and then just put that straight across your current 2 without using a new switch

 

Steve

[Davit2005]

If you have a switch stack that act as one logical switch then you should be able to have 2 connections between the Cisco and your core switch.

 

I'd suggest you setup the team on the router using 2 spare ports and setup the trunk on the switch using 2 spare ports that way hopefully you will just be able to move back across if you have problems through setup. Setting up trunks between different manufacturers should not be impossible but may take a bit of troubleshooting.