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Configuring a Backup Router
When a router or switch is booting, the routing protocol process (rpd) is not running; therefore, the router or switch has no static or default routes. To allow the router or switch to boot and to ensure that the router or switch 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 or switch (that is, on the same subnet).
To achieve network reachability while loading, configuring, and recovering the router or switch, but without the risk of installing a default route in the forwarding table, include the destination option. Specify the address in the format network/mask-length so that the entire network is reachable through the backup router.
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.
 | Note: You cannot configure a destination address on the backup router as 0.0.0.0/0. You must include a proper subnet range /8 or higher in the destination address. |
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.
The following topics describe how to configure a backup router running IPv4 and IPv6, respectively:
Configuring a Backup Router Running IPv4
To configure a backup router running IPv4, include the backup-router statement at the [edit system] hierarchy level:
The following example shows how to configure a backup router running IPv4 and have its address remain in the routing and forwarding tables:
Configuring a Backup Router Running IPv6
To configure a backup router running IPv6, include the inet6-backup-router statement at the [edit system] hierarchy level:
The following example shows how to configure a backup router running IPv6 and have its address remain in the routing and forwarding tables:
