RE: HSRP availability in datacenters?

["Randal Kohutek" <nanog () data102 com>]

I had read that on our original deployment, and it's a nightmare to keep the
documenation and configuration in synch. My personal opinion is that
potentially failing 16 VSIs over to the standby at once (because they're all
in the same group) - instead of just the affected ones - is poor policy.

I agree, 6500s or 4500s for distribution are where it's at ... Unfortunately
they cost a lot. Which is why the suits are considering financing them by
charging for the features they provide.

This has been a hot topic around the office, with all of us network guys
saying `keep hsrp everywhere` because it makes our phones ring less, but we
realize that network upgrades aren't free, which is making the non-IT folks
all antsy.

Regards,
Randal

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Lyon [mailto:mike.lyon () gmail com] 
> Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 1:11 PM
> To: Randal Kohutek
> Cc: nanog () merit edu
> Subject: Re: HSRP availability in datacenters?
>
> Check out this article:
>
> http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps646/products
> _qanda_item09186a00801cb707.shtml#q1
>
> Get rid of the 3550. Get youself a 6509 or 6513 :0
>
> -Mike
>
>
> On 5/11/07, Randal Kohutek <nanog () data102 com> wrote:
> > We currently offer HSRP everywhere, the problem is that it doesn't 
> > scale on a budget. For example, a 3550 can do 16 HSRP 
> groups, limiting 
> > the number of customers that we can attach to (2x 3550s) to 
> 16. That's 
> > a lot of distribution infrastructure for 16 customers. Then 
> to scale 
> > that, say, to
> > 200+ customers, that means we have 12-13 pairs of distribution 
> > 200+ routers, each
> > with 2x gigE uplinks to the core ... Which means that 
> either (A) the 
> > core has to be really big or (b) we get fewer, more powerful 
> > distribution devices.
> >
> > This is where my employer is at now - I admit, we're tiny in the 
> > datacenter world - but the cost to aggregate 100+ HSRP 
> groups into the 
> > core, with room to grow, is pretty staggering for a smb.
> >
> > This why the suits are wondering if there is a revenue opportunity 
> > hiding somewhere to finance such a thing. Ah, the joys of 
> growing out 
> > of your britches :)
> >
> > Thanks for any continued response,
> > Randal
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: owner-nanog () merit edu 
> [mailto:owner-nanog () merit edu] On Behalf 
> > > Of Mike Lyon
> > > Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 12:40 PM
> > > To: Randal Kohutek
> > > Cc: nanog () merit edu
> > > Subject: Re: HSRP availability in datacenters?
> > >
> > >
> > > So is the question: you are selling transit to your customers and 
> > > you are wondering if you should charge your customer for allowing 
> > > them to use your HSRP gateway instead of a physical interface on 
> > > your router?
> > >
> > > Personally, if I saw a provider charging for that 
> service, I would 
> > > shy away from them. Only because it tells me they are 
> piece-mealing 
> > > their services and are cheap. I would think a good provider would 
> > > include that (and/or not sell it WITHOUT
> > > HSRP) in their sales offering. If for the only reason of customer 
> > > support nightmares. If you have your customers on HSRP 
> and you have 
> > > a router go down, you wont have them calling you every 
> five minutes 
> > > bitching at you...
> > >
> > > -Mike
> > >
> > >
> > > On 5/11/07, Randal Kohutek <nanog () data102 com> wrote:
> > > > My cohorts in suits have begun wondering if HSRP is 
> standard for 
> > > > customer gateways, and from there wondering if it is
> > > something we should charge for.
> > > > I did some research and came up with mixed results; I'd
> > > like to hear
> > > > nanogers experiences with this:
> > > >
> > > > In your experience, do datacenters provide free HSRP
> > > gateways, or do
> > > > they make you pay for it?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Real world examples are better than Google :) Thanks, Randal