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45 Interview Questions Answers with

Explanation
Designing High-Availability Core
Networks

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Contents
1. What is the purpose of HSRP, VRRP, and GLBP in network design? ........................ 4
2. Explain the concept of HSRP. .................................................................................... 4
3. How does VRRP differ from HSRP, and what are its advantages? ............................ 4
4. Can you explain GLBP and its benefits in network design? ........................................ 4
5. Describe a scenario where you would choose HSRP over VRRP or GLBP. ............... 5
6. What are some common considerations when configuring HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP on
routers? ......................................................................................................................... 5
7. Explain the concept of HSRP priority. ........................................................................ 5
8. What happens when the active router in an HSRP group fails? ................................. 5
9. How does GLBP differ from HSRP and VRRP in terms of load balancing? ................ 5
10. Can you explain the different load-balancing algorithms used in GLBP? .................. 6
11. How do you ensure proper failover and load balancing in a network with HSRP,
VRRP, or GLBP? ........................................................................................................... 6
12. What is the purpose of the "preempt" command in HSRP and VRRP? .................... 6
13. Can you describe scenarios where you might use VRRP or GLBP over HSRP? ...... 6
14. Explain the significance of configuring tracking interfaces in HSRP and VRRP. ....... 6
15. What are some best practices for securing HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP configurations? 7
16. What is "ARP poisoning," and how can HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP mitigate it? ............ 7
17. What are the key differences between HSRP and GLBP in terms of redundancy and
load balancing? .............................................................................................................. 7
18. Explain the "gratuitous ARP" concept and its role in HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP. .......... 7
19. Can you describe the process of setting up HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP on a Cisco
router? ........................................................................................................................... 8
20. What is a "split-brain" scenario in HSRP or VRRP, and how can it be avoided? ...... 8
21. How does network convergence time differ between HSRP, VRRP, and GLBP? ..... 8
22. Describe a real-world scenario where you would implement HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP
for network redundancy.................................................................................................. 8
23. How can you monitor the status and performance of HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP
configurations? .............................................................................................................. 8
24. Explain the use of the "load-balancing" command in GLBP configuration. ............... 9
25. What security mechanisms can be used to protect HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP
configurations from unauthorized access or attacks? ..................................................... 9
26. Describe how you would ensure proper configuration backup and version control for
HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP settings. ................................................................................... 9
27. Can you discuss the considerations when scaling HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP for larger
networks? ...................................................................................................................... 9

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28. Explain how you can mitigate potential asymmetric routing issues in a network with
HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP. ................................................................................................ 9
29. Describe the role of "preemption" in HSRP and VRRP and when it's beneficial to use
it. .................................................................................................................................. 10
30. What are the key benefits of using HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP in network design
compared to traditional single-router configurations? ................................................... 10
31. Explain the concept of "virtual IP" in HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP. ................................ 10
32. What are some common issues or challenges you might encounter when
configuring HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP, and how would you troubleshoot them? .............. 10
33. How does the "hello" mechanism work in HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP, and why is it
important for network stability? ..................................................................................... 10
34. Can you explain the role of "standby routers" in HSRP or VRRP and how they
prevent network disruptions? ....................................................................................... 11
35. What are the key considerations for choosing the appropriate HSRP, VRRP, or
GLBP version (e.g., HSRPv1 vs. HSRPv2)? ................................................................ 11
36. How can you optimize HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP configurations for voice and video
traffic, which require low latency and high reliability? ................................................... 11
37. Explain the process of configuring load balancing in a GLBP group, and provide an
example of when this might be necessary. ................................................................... 11
38. What are some potential security vulnerabilities associated with HSRP, VRRP, or
GLBP, and how can you address them? ...................................................................... 11
39. Describe the impact of asymmetrical routing on network performance and how
HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP can help mitigate it. ................................................................ 12
40. Can you provide an example of a real-world scenario where you've successfully
implemented HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP to achieve high network availability? ................. 12
41. What are the advantages of using HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP over traditional routing
protocols like OSPF or EIGRP for network redundancy? ............................................. 12
42. How can you fine-tune the timers for HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP to better suit specific
network requirements?................................................................................................. 12
43. Explain the concept of "load sharing" in GLBP and its benefits for network traffic
distribution. .................................................................................................................. 13
44. What are some practical methods for measuring network convergence times in an
HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP configuration, and why is this important for network monitoring?
.................................................................................................................................... 13
45. Can you provide an example of a situation where you had to reconfigure HSRP,
VRRP, or GLBP to accommodate changes in network requirements, and how did you
approach this task? ...................................................................................................... 13

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1. What is the purpose of HSRP, VRRP, and GLBP in network design?

Answer: HSRP, VRRP, and GLBP are used to provide high availability and load balancing in
core network designs by ensuring redundancy and efficient traffic distribution.

2. Explain the concept of HSRP.

Answer: HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol) is a Cisco proprietary protocol that allows
multiple routers to work together in a group to provide high availability and failover. One
router acts as the active router, while the others are in standby mode. If the active router
fails, a standby router takes over, minimizing downtime.

Example: In a network, Router A is the active HSRP router for a specific subnet. If Router A
goes down, Router B becomes the active router to ensure network continuity.

3. How does VRRP differ from HSRP, and what are its advantages?

Answer: VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol) is similar to HSRP but is not vendor-
specific and is standardized by the IETF. VRRP allows routers from different manufacturers
to work together. It provides redundancy and failover, just like HSRP.

4. Can you explain GLBP and its benefits in network design?

Answer: GLBP (Gateway Load Balancing Protocol) is another Cisco protocol that provides
load balancing along with redundancy. Unlike HSRP and VRRP, GLBP allows multiple routers
to share the traffic load, distributing it across the group members based on different load-
balancing algorithms.

Example: In a network, Router A and Router B are part of a GLBP group. Router A may
handle 60% of the traffic while Router B takes 40%, optimizing network resources.

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5. Describe a scenario where you would choose HSRP over VRRP or

GLBP.

Answer: You might choose HSRP in a network where all routers are from the same vendor,
and vendor-specific features are needed. For example, if all core routers in your network are
Cisco, HSRP would be a suitable choice.

6. What are some common considerations when configuring HSRP,

VRRP, or GLBP on routers?

Answer: Key considerations include IP address allocation, group priorities, timers, and
tracking interfaces. Proper configuration ensures seamless failover and load balancing.

7. Explain the concept of HSRP priority.

Answer: HSRP priority is a value assigned to each router in an HSRP group. The router with
the highest priority becomes the active router. Priority can be manually configured or
adjusted based on interface tracking or other criteria.

Example: In an HSRP group, Router A has a priority of 110, while Router B has a priority of
90. Router A becomes the active router because it has a higher priority.

8. What happens when the active router in an HSRP group fails?

Answer: When the active router fails, the standby router with the highest priority takes
over as the new active router. This ensures continuous network operation.

9. How does GLBP differ from HSRP and VRRP in terms of load
balancing?

Answer: GLBP provides load balancing by distributing traffic across multiple routers in the
group. HSRP and VRRP operate with a single active router, which doesn't provide load
balancing.

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10. Can you explain the different load-balancing algorithms used in

GLBP?

Answer: GLBP offers three load-balancing algorithms: round-robin, host-dependent, and

weighted. Round-robin equally distributes traffic, host-dependent forwards packets to the
same virtual MAC address for the same host, and weighted balances traffic based on
configured weights.

Example: In a weighted GLBP configuration, Router A may have a weight of 75, while
Router B has a weight of 25. Router A handles more traffic because it has a higher weight.

11. How do you ensure proper failover and load balancing in a network
with HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP?

Answer: Ensuring proper failover and load balancing involves configuring priorities,
tracking interfaces, and using preemption where necessary. Additionally, monitoring and
maintaining routers is crucial.

12. What is the purpose of the "preempt" command in HSRP and

VRRP?

Answer: The "preempt" command allows the router with the highest priority to
immediately become the active router if it has recovered from a failure or has a higher
priority than the current active router.

13. Can you describe scenarios where you might use VRRP or GLBP
over HSRP?

Answer: You might choose VRRP or GLBP when working in a multi-vendor environment or
when you require load balancing along with redundancy.

14. Explain the significance of configuring tracking interfaces in HSRP

and VRRP.

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Answer: Tracking interfaces are used to monitor the status of specific interfaces. If a
tracked interface goes down, the router's priority is automatically reduced, which can
trigger a failover event.

Example: If the primary link to a data center fails, tracking that interface can cause a
secondary router to become active, ensuring network continuity.

15. What are some best practices for securing HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP
configurations?

Answer: Implement best practices such as using authentication, filtering incoming HSRP,
VRRP, or GLBP packets, and configuring proper access controls to prevent unauthorized
access to router interfaces.

16. What is "ARP poisoning," and how can HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP
mitigate it?

Answer: ARP poisoning is a form of attack where an attacker sends false ARP responses to
redirect traffic. HSRP, VRRP, and GLBP mitigate ARP poisoning by ensuring that the virtual
MAC address is associated with the active router, making it difficult for attackers to
manipulate ARP tables.

17. What are the key differences between HSRP and GLBP in terms of
redundancy and load balancing?

Answer: HSRP offers redundancy but not load balancing, whereas GLBP provides both
redundancy and load balancing. In HSRP, one router is active, and the others are standby. In
GLBP, multiple routers share the load and can actively process traffic.

18. Explain the "gratuitous ARP" concept and its role in HSRP, VRRP, or
GLBP.

Answer: Gratuitous ARP is an ARP response that a router sends to update its neighbors
about a new or changed MAC address. In HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP, it is used to announce the
virtual MAC address and prevent address resolution issues during failover.

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19. Can you describe the process of setting up HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP
on a Cisco router?

Answer: To set up HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP, you configure the virtual IP, group number, and
priority on router interfaces. You define tracking if needed and adjust timers. The final step
is enabling the protocol on the interface.

20. What is a "split-brain" scenario in HSRP or VRRP, and how can it be

avoided?

Answer: A split-brain scenario occurs when both routers in an HSRP or VRRP group believe
they are the active router. It can be avoided by configuring tracking interfaces and using the
"preempt" command to ensure one router takes precedence.

21. How does network convergence time differ between HSRP, VRRP,
and GLBP?

Answer: HSRP and VRRP have slower network convergence times because they rely on a
standby router to take over in case of a failure. GLBP offers faster convergence because
multiple routers can actively handle traffic.

22. Describe a real-world scenario where you would implement HSRP,

VRRP, or GLBP for network redundancy.

Answer: In a data center, implementing HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP ensures high availability. For
instance, if one core router fails, the other takes over without affecting connectivity, critical
for online services.

23. How can you monitor the status and performance of HSRP, VRRP,
or GLBP configurations?

Answer: Monitoring involves using network management tools and features like syslog
messages, SNMP, and performance metrics to track the status, failover events, and traffic
distribution.

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24. Explain the use of the "load-balancing" command in GLBP

configuration.

Answer: The "load-balancing" command in GLBP allows you to specify the load-balancing
algorithm (round-robin, host-dependent, or weighted) to be used for distributing traffic
across routers in the group.

25. What security mechanisms can be used to protect HSRP, VRRP, or

GLBP configurations from unauthorized access or attacks?

Answer: Security mechanisms include configuring authentication (e.g., MD5),

implementing access control lists (ACLs) to filter incoming packets, and deploying control
plane policing (CoPP) to limit protocol traffic.

26. Describe how you would ensure proper configuration backup and
version control for HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP settings.

Answer: Regularly back up configurations using tools like TFTP or SCP, and store them in a
version control system (e.g., Git). Document changes and ensure backups are accessible for
recovery.

27. Can you discuss the considerations when scaling HSRP, VRRP, or
GLBP for larger networks?

Answer: Scaling considerations include using proper hardware, optimizing network

topology, and adjusting timers to maintain efficient operation in larger networks.

28. Explain how you can mitigate potential asymmetric routing issues in
a network with HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP.

Answer: Asymmetric routing can be mitigated by adjusting timers, monitoring traffic

patterns, and ensuring that traffic flows symmetrically to the active router.

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29. Describe the role of "preemption" in HSRP and VRRP and when it's
beneficial to use it.

Answer: Preemption is the ability of a router with a higher priority to take over as the
active router when it recovers from a failure. It is beneficial to use preemption when you
want the best-performing router to resume its role as the active router.

30. What are the key benefits of using HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP in
network design compared to traditional single-router configurations?

Answer: The key benefits include improved network availability, redundancy, and load
balancing. These protocols ensure minimal downtime and optimized resource utilization.

31. Explain the concept of "virtual IP" in HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP.

Answer: The virtual IP is the IP address associated with the HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP group that
clients use as their default gateway. When one router becomes the active router, it assumes
the virtual IP, ensuring seamless network operation.

32. What are some common issues or challenges you might encounter
when configuring HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP, and how would you
troubleshoot them?

Answer: Common issues include misconfigured timers, incorrect group numbers, or tracking
interface problems. Troubleshooting involves verifying configurations, checking the status of
tracked interfaces, and reviewing logs for errors.

33. How does the "hello" mechanism work in HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP,
and why is it important for network stability?

Answer: The "hello" mechanism involves routers sending periodic messages to each other to
confirm their operational status. If one router stops receiving "hello" messages from
another, it assumes a failure and takes over as the active router, ensuring network stability.

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34. Can you explain the role of "standby routers" in HSRP or VRRP and
how they prevent network disruptions?

Answer: Standby routers in HSRP or VRRP are routers that are ready to take over as the
active router in case of a failure. They ensure network continuity by being prepared to serve
traffic when the active router goes down.

35. What are the key considerations for choosing the appropriate HSRP,
VRRP, or GLBP version (e.g., HSRPv1 vs. HSRPv2)?

Answer: Consider factors like interoperability, security features, and protocol enhancements
when choosing between versions. Ensure that the selected version aligns with your network
requirements and is supported by your router models.

36. How can you optimize HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP configurations for
voice and video traffic, which require low latency and high reliability?

Answer: To optimize for voice and video traffic, you can reduce timers, minimize
unnecessary failover events, prioritize voice traffic, and implement QoS policies to ensure
low latency and high reliability.

37. Explain the process of configuring load balancing in a GLBP group,

and provide an example of when this might be necessary.

Answer: To configure load balancing in GLBP, you set the load-balancing algorithm, specify
weights, and configure preemption. Load balancing may be necessary in scenarios where
you want to distribute traffic evenly or ensure that specific routers handle more critical
services.

38. What are some potential security vulnerabilities associated with

HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP, and how can you address them?

Answer: Security vulnerabilities include unauthorized access, packet spoofing, and ARP
poisoning. To address these issues, implement authentication, filter incoming packets, and
use encrypted communication for these protocols.

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39. Describe the impact of asymmetrical routing on network performance

and how HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP can help mitigate it.

Answer: Asymmetrical routing can lead to issues like out-of-order packets and inefficient
load balancing. HSRP, VRRP, and GLBP can help mitigate these issues by ensuring that return
traffic follows the path of the active router, preventing routing loops and optimizing
performance.

40. Can you provide an example of a real-world scenario where you've

successfully implemented HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP to achieve high
network availability?

Answer: In a data center environment, we implemented HSRP to ensure high availability for
critical services. The setup allowed for seamless failover in the event of a router failure,
ensuring uninterrupted service for our clients.

41. What are the advantages of using HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP over
traditional routing protocols like OSPF or EIGRP for network
redundancy?

Answer: HSRP, VRRP, and GLBP focus on providing fast failover and redundancy for default
gateways, while routing protocols like OSPF or EIGRP handle routing and path selection.
Using both in conjunction ensures a robust network with optimized routing and high
availability.

42. How can you fine-tune the timers for HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP to
better suit specific network requirements?

Answer: Adjusting timers involves setting parameters such as "hello" intervals and hold
timers to control how quickly routers detect failures and initiate failovers. Timers can be
fine-tuned based on network topology, link stability, and the desired convergence time.

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43. Explain the concept of "load sharing" in GLBP and its benefits for
network traffic distribution.

Answer: Load sharing in GLBP allows multiple routers to actively handle traffic. It optimizes
resource utilization and ensures that no single router becomes a bottleneck, providing
efficient traffic distribution.

44. What are some practical methods for measuring network

convergence times in an HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP configuration, and why
is this important for network monitoring?

Answer: Practical methods include tracking failover times in logs, using network monitoring
tools to measure response times, and examining routing protocol statistics. Network
convergence times are important for monitoring and ensuring that the network meets its
SLAs.

45. Can you provide an example of a situation where you had to

reconfigure HSRP, VRRP, or GLBP to accommodate changes in
network requirements, and how did you approach this task?

Answer: In a network expansion, we needed to redistribute traffic more evenly. To address

this, we adjusted GLBP weights to allocate a higher percentage of traffic to routers with
more processing capacity, ensuring efficient utilization of network resources.

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