GLBP Replacement Technology

White Paper

Issue 01

Date 2015-11-11

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper About This Document

Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 2015. All rights reserved.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior
written consent of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Trademarks and Permissions

and other Huawei trademarks are trademarks of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
All other trademarks and trade names mentioned in this document are the property of their respective
holders.

Notice
The purchased products, services and features are stipulated by the contract made between Huawei and
the customer. All or part of the products, services and features described in this document may not be
within the purchase scope or the usage scope. Unless otherwise specified in the contract, all statements,
information, and recommendations in this document are provided "AS IS" without warranties, guarantees or
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The information in this document is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made in the
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recommendations in this document do not constitute a warranty of any kind, express or implied.

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Address: Huawei Industrial Base
Bantian, Longgang
Shenzhen 518129
People's Republic of China
Website: http://e.huawei.com

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper About This Document

About This Document

This document compares Cisco Gateway Load Balancing Protocol (GLBP) with the Virtual
Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) and provides GLBP configuration procedures in hybrid
networking scenarios.

Intended Audience
This document is intended for:
 Network planning engineers
 Commissioning engineers
 Data configuration engineers
 Onsite maintenance engineers
 Network monitoring engineers
 System maintenance engineers

Symbol Conventions
The symbols that may be found in this document are defined as follows.

Symbol Description
Indicates a hazard with a high level or medium level of risk
which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

Indicates a hazard with a low level of risk which, if not

avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury.

Indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided,

could result in equipment damage, data loss, performance
deterioration, or unanticipated results.
Provides a tip that may help you solve a problem or save time.
Provides additional information to emphasize or supplement
important points in the main text.

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper About This Document

Change History
Changes between document issues are cumulative. The latest document issue contains all the
changes made in earlier issues.

Issue 01 (2003-05-20)
This issue is the first official release.

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper Contents

Contents

About This Document ............................................................................................................... ii

1 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Cisco GLBP .......................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Working Principle.................................................................................................................................................. 1
1.2.1 State Machines ................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.3 VRRP.................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.3.1 Working Principle ............................................................................................................................................... 3
1.3.2 State Machines ................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.4 LBRG ................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.4.1 Working Principle ............................................................................................................................................... 4
1.4.2 State Machines ................................................................................................................................................... 5

2 Replaceability Analysis ........................................................................................................... 7

2.1 Replacement Solution ............................................................................................................................................ 7
2.2 Configuration Command Comparison .................................................................................................................... 7

3 Hybrid Networking Example ................................................................................................. 9

3.1 Example 1: Basic Network Configuration .............................................................................................................. 9
3.1.1 Network Topology .............................................................................................................................................. 9
3.1.2 Network Configuration ......................................................................................................................................10

4 References ............................................................................................................................... 11

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 1 Overview

1 Overview

1.1 Cisco GLBP

The Gateway Load Balancing Protocol (GLBP) provides extended functions based on the
VRRP protocol. In a Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) group, a master router
must be elected, and the backup router is in idle state. However, GLBP provides not only
redundant gateways but also load balancing among gateways.
GLBP allows one virtual IP address to be mapped to up to four virtual MAC addresses to
achieve load balancing. Members in a GLBP group have the same virtual IP address and
communicate with each other through hello messages. The multicast IP address of these hello
messages is 224.0.0.102, and the messages are carried in User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
packets.

1.2 Working Principle

Members of a GLBP group elect one gateway as an active virtual gateway (AVG) for the
group. The election process is similar to the process of VRRP Master election.
The selected AVG then assigns a virtual MAC address to each member of the GLBP group.
Each member assumes responsibility for forwarding packets to the virtual MAC address that
is assigned to it by the AVG. Members assigned with virtual MAC addresses are called Active
Virtual Forwarders (AVFs).
The AVG is responsible for responding to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) request packets
destined for the virtual IP address. Load balancing is achieved by the AVG responding to the
ARP request packets with different virtual MAC addresses. Members of a GLBP group
communicate with each other through hello messages. These hello messages are sent every 3
seconds and carry the assigned virtual MAC addresses.
After receiving a hello message, an AVF learns the virtual MAC address carried in the
message and saves it as a redundant virtual MAC address.
An AVF contains the virtual MAC addresses assigned by the AVG and learned from other
AVFs. An AVF that is assigned with the virtual MAC address by the AVG is known as a
primary virtual forwarder. A virtual forwarder that has learned the virtual MAC address is
called as a secondary virtual forwarder.
If an AVF fails, another AVF that has learned the virtual MAC address is elected to take over
the faulty AVF to forward packets. The election process is similar to the process of VRRP

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 1 Overview

Master election. Since one virtual MAC address is unavailable but is still used by users for
forwarding packets, a buffer time is required to switch to another virtual MAC address for
forwarding packets. GLBP uses two timers to process packets sent from the original virtual
MAC address. Before the first timer expires, the AVG can still uses the original virtual MAC
address to respond to ARP request packets. Before the second timer expires, the packets from
the original virtual MAC address can still be forwarded.

1.2.1 State Machines

GLBP defines three states.

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 1 Overview

Sh
ge

Re wn m
u
nm sa
sa

tD
e
me s a
ag

ce
es

o
o w i ve

ss
tup eive

i ve e ssa
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ar
Receives a packet for assigning
a virtual MAC address

 UNKNOWN: The initial status of all members in a GLBP group is UNKNOWN. When
attributes are configured for the group members or member interfaces are Up, the
members' states become UNKNOWN.
 LISTEN: When a GLBP group in UNKNOWN state receives a Startup message, the
group changes its GLBP state to LISTEN.
 ACTIVE: When a GLBP group in LISTEN state receives a packet for assigning a virtual
MAC address, the group changes its GLBP state to ACTIVE.

1.3 VRRP
VRRP is defined by RFC2338, providing the backup mechanism for devices in LANs.

1.3.1 Working Principle

VRRP provides similar functions as Cisco GLBP and has a similar working principle as Cisco
GLBP.

1.3.2 State Machines

VRRP defines three states.

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 1 Overview

Initialize

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The priority changes, the Peer

BFD session is Down, or the
protocol timer expires.

Master Backup

The priority changes.

 Master: A master router forwards gateway traffic, responds to ARP request packets, and
periodically sends VRRP protocol packets destined for the multicast IP address
224.0.0.18 to maintain the active/standby device status in the VRRP group.
 Backup: A backup router monitors heartbeat packets from the master router. If the
priority changes or the backup router does not receive any packets from the master router
within the Master_Down_Interval, the backup router becomes the master, but does not
forward traffic or respond to ARP request packets destined for the virtual IP address.
 Initialize: When the VRRP-enabled interface is down, the device in Initialize state does
not process VRRP packets, forward traffic, or take part in the active/standby device
election in the VRRP group.

1.4 LBRG
Load-Balance Redundancy Group (LBRG) is a protocol extended by Huawei based on VRRP.
The LBRG feature is supported by Huawei CE series switches and will be supported by later
versions of Sx700 series campus switches in the future.

1.4.1 Working Principle

LBRG uses a virtual IP address to respond to packets from different virtual MAC addresses.
User traffic is directed to and load balanced among outbound interfaces based on virtual MAC
addresses.

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 1 Overview

Primary virtual IP address of VRRP1 (LBRG): 1.1.1.1

Secondary virtual IP address of VRRP2: 1.1.1.2
Primary virtual IP address of VRRP3: 1.1.1.3
Gatway: 1.1.1.1

VMAC:0000-5E00-0101 Device 1

VMAC:0000-5E00-0102
Gatway: 1.1.1.1

VMAC:0000-5E00-0103
IP/MPLS
Gatway: 1.1.1.1 Core

Switch
Internet
Gatway: 1.1.1.1
VMAC:0000-5E00-0102
Device 2

Gatway: 1.1.1.1 VMAC:0000-5E00-0103 Primary virtual IP address of VRRP3: 1.1.1.3

Secondary virtual IP address of VRRP2: 1.1.1.2
Primary virtual IP address of VRRP1 (LBRG): 1.1.1.1

Implementation: LBRG uses a virtual IP address to respond to packets from different virtual MAC addresses. User
traffic is directed to and load balanced among outbound interfaces based on virtual MAC addresses.
Solution: 1. Set VRRP1 as the LBRG, and add VRRP2 and VRRP3 to the LBRG.
2. The active device in VRRP1 responds to ARP request packets when VRRP1 is used as the user gateway.
3. VRRP1 responds to ARP request packets with a virtual MAC address that is selected from the LBRG using the
hash algorithm based on the user's IP address and MAC address.
4. VRRP1 cannot send gratuitous ARP packets after it is set as the LBRG.

Gatway: 1.1.1.1

1.4.2 State Machines

LBRG defines the same three states as those defined by VRRP.

Initialize
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The priority changes, the

Peer BFD session is Down, or
n.

the protocol timer times out.

Master Backup

The priority changes.

 Master: A master router forwards gateway traffic, responds to ARP request packets, and
periodically sends VRRP protocol packets destined for the multicast IP address
224.0.0.18 to maintain the active/standby device status in the VRRP group.
 Backup: A backup router monitors heartbeat packets from the master router. If the
priority changes or the backup router does not receive any packets from the master router

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 1 Overview

within the Master_Down_Interval, the backup router becomes the master, but does not
forward traffic or respond to ARP request packets destined for the virtual IP address.
 Initialize: When the VRRP-enabled interface is down, the device in Initialize state does
not process VRRP packets, forward traffic, or take part in the active/standby device
election in the VRRP group.

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 2 Replaceability Analysis

2 Replaceability Analysis

2.1 Replacement Solution

GLBP is a Cisco proprietary protocol and is not interoperable with other redundancy
protocols. VRRP provides similar functions as GLBP and has been implemented on Huawei
Sx700 series campus switches. Therefore, VRRP can be used to replace Cisco GLBP and can
be smoothly upgraded to LBRG in the future.
Generally, a Cisco device and a Huawei device are not deployed for gateway redundancy. The
VRRP protocol can be used to replace GLBP on the original network. This document
describes the solution to replace GLBP on all gateway devices on a network.

2.2 Configuration Command Comparison

Configuration Cisco Huawei
Configuring a glbp group ip [ip-address vrrp vrid <virtual-router-id>
virtual IP address [secondary]] [ virtual-ip <virtual-address> ]
vrrp vrid <vrid> load-balance
vrrp vrid <virtual-router-id> join
load-balance-vrrp vrid
<lb-vrid-value>
Configuring glbp group timers [msec] vrrp vrid <virtual-router-id> timer
packet hellotime [msec] holdtime advertise
transmission { <adver-interval> | millisecond
parameters
<millisecond-interval> }
Configuring a glbp group priority level vrrp vrid <vrid> priority <priority>
priority
Configuring the glbp group preempt [delay vrrp vrid <vrid> preempt-mode timer
preemption mode minimum seconds] delay <delay-time>
Configuring the glbp group-number vrrp vrid <virtual-router-id>
authentication authentication authentication-mode { simple <key> |
mode {text string | md5 md5 <md5-key> }

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 2 Replaceability Analysis

Configuration Cisco Huawei

{key-string [0 | 7] key |
key-chain nameof-chain}}
Configuring a glbp group weighting track vrrp vrid <virtual-router-id> track
tracking object object-number [decrement interface { <interface-type>
value] <interface-number> |
<interface-name> } [ increased
<value-increased> | reduced
<value-reduced> ]
vrrp vrid <virtual-router-id> track ip
route <ip-address> { <mask> |
<mask-length> } [ vpn-instance
<vpn-instance-name> ] [ reduced
<value-reduced> ]
Configuring the glbp group forwarder vrrp vrid <vrid>
preemption mode preempt [delay minimum preempt-mode timer delay
for a forwarder seconds] <delay-time>

Comparison between configuration commands on Cisco and Huawei devices:

 GLBP configuration on Cisco device:
Router(config)# interface fastethernet 0/0
Router(config-if)# ip address 10.21.8.32 255.255.255.0
Router(config-if)# glbp 10 timers 5 18
Router(config-if)# glbp 10 timers redirect 1800 28800
Router(config-if)# glbp 10 load-balancing host-dependent
Router(config-if)# glbp 10 priority 254
Router(config-if)# glbp 10 preempt delay minimum 60
Router(config-if)# glbp 10 client-cache maximum 1200 timeout 245
 VRRP configuration:
interface Vlanif1
vrrp vrid 1 virtual-ip 192.168.16.254/*Set the same virtual IP address for routers in a VRRP group.
vrrp vrid 1 priority 120/*Define the priority of the active router in group 1. A router with a higher value is
more likely to become the active router.
vrrp vrid 1 timer advertise 3/*Set the interval for sending hello messages and holdtime of hello messages.
Specify that hello messages are exchanged every 3 seconds in group 1 and the active/standby switchover is triggered
when a hello messages is not received within 9 seconds.
vrrp vrid 1 authentication-mode md5/simple cisco /*Define the authentication mode.
track interface Ethernet0/0/0 reduced 20 /*Define the interface to be tracked.
 LBRG configuration:
interface Vlanif1
vrrp vrid 1 virtual-ip 192.168.16.254； vrrp vrid 1 load-balance；
vrrp vrid 2
vrrp vrid 2 join load-balance-vrrp vrid 1
vrrp vrid 1 priority 120
vrrp vrid 1 timer advertise 3

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 3 Hybrid Networking Example

3 Hybrid Networking Example

3.1 Example 1: Basic Network Configuration

The following describes the basic configuration for Cisco GLBP gateway backup solution.

3.1.1 Network Topology

Figure 3-1 Typical GLBP networking diagram

A GLBP group consists of Device 1 and Device 2, which bear the load balancing function of
redundant gateways.

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 3 Hybrid Networking Example

3.1.2 Network Configuration

Configuration Requirements
A customer configures GLBP gateway functions on Cisco switches to provide redundancy
protection and load balancing for user traffic.

Configuration Methods
Configure VLANIF interfaces and GLBP groups on the VLANIF interfaces.

Configuration Files
Cisco:
 Configuration file of Device 1
conf t int vlan 1
ip address 10.21.8.1 255.255.255.0
glbp 10 ip 10.21.8.10
glbp 10 timers 5 18
glbp 10 priority 120 end
 Configuration file of Device 2
conf t int vlan 1
ip address 10.21.8.1 255.255.255.0
glbp 10 ip 10.21.8.10
glbp 10 timers 5 18
glbp 10 priority 100 end

Huawei:
 Configuration file of Device 1
int vlan 1
ip address 10.21.8.1 255.255.255.0
vrrp vrid 10 virtial-ip 10.21.8.10 vrrp vrid 10 load-balance
vrrp vrid 10 priority 120
vrrp vrid 11
vrrp vrid 11 join load-balance vrid 10
 Configuration file of Device 2
int vlan 1
ip address 10.21.8.1 255.255.255.0
vrrp vrid 10 virtial-ip 10.21.8.10 vrrp vrid 10 load-balance
vrrp vrid 11
vrrp vrid 11 priority 120
vrrp vrid 11 join load-balance vrid 10

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GLBP Replacement Technology White Paper 4 References

4 References

RFC 3768: http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc3768

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