Forum Discussion

M_2's avatar
M_2
Icon for Altocumulus rankAltocumulus
Feb 14, 2015

How does client traffic is sent to Active device VIP's ?

Hello Techies,

 

I am new to F5 and trying to understand how the client traffic is sent to Active device virtual IP, since the IP is configured and exist in both active and standby devices, but what mechanism does F5 uses that it is sent to Acitve device and what happens at the time of failure.

 

Please do share any links or docs available in this regard.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Sam

 

application delivery
design
LTM

2 Replies

  • nathe's avatar
    nathe
    Icon for Cirrocumulus rankCirrocumulus
    Feb 14, 2015

    Sam. It's all about the Mac address. It'll share the Mac of the active. On failover there's a gratuitous ARP to change the Mac to the new active one.

     

    That's it in v simple terms.

     

    Hope it helps.

     

  • giltjr's avatar
    giltjr
    Icon for Nimbostratus rankNimbostratus
    Feb 14, 2015

    Only the active device will respond to ARPs for the VIP.

     

    At the time of failure the active device will no longer respond to ARPs and the standby device will send out a gratuitous ARP.