Configuring a Backup Router

When the router is booting, the routing protocol process (rpd) is not running; therefore, the router has no static or default routes. To allow the router to boot and to ensure that the router is reachable over the network if the routing protocol process fails to start properly, you configure a backup router (running IP version 4 [IPv4] or IP version 6 [IPv6]), which is a router that is directly connected to the local router (that is, on the same subnet).

To configure a backup router running IPv4, include the backup-router statement at the [edit system] hierarchy level:

To configure a backup router running IPv6, include the inet6-backup-router statement at the [edit system] hierarchy level:

By default, all hosts (default route) are reachable through the backup router. To eliminate the risk of installing a default route in the forwarding table, include the destination option, specifying an address that is reachable through the backup router. Specify the address in the format network/mask-length so that the entire network is reachable through the backup router.

When the routing protocols start, the address of the backup router is removed from the local routing and forwarding tables. To have the address remain in these tables, configure a static route for that address by including the static statement at the [edit routing-options] hierarchy level.

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