Forum Discussion
muruganyash
Nimbostratus
If F5 use to update its virtual server address MAC to neighbour device using GARP periodically, why cisco gateway is sending ARP request for F5 VIP address ? All i want to know is how this ARP request is answered by F5 selp interface?
mihaic
Nov 24, 2022MVP
GARP is used when an F5 device boots, becomes active or when the VIP is enabled.
Both ARP and MAC table entries have an aging timer. MAC and ARP entries have different aging timers.
So when this expires the upstream device will remove the ARP entry for example.
If new traffic is coming for a VIP IP it will need to know the MAC address so it will ask by broadcasting an ARP request. The F5 will reply VIP IP request with its MAC address from its interface.