Ethernet Failover

Hi,

I'm looking for an Ethernet failover solution. I have systems with
two interfaces each. Each system is connected two different switches.
Due to limitations in the software, each system can only have one IP
address. So I need to find a way to make two interfaces appear as
one. Load balancing might or might not be needed but failover is a
must.

I think this can be done using ethernet "bonding". I also tried to
use the "bridge" module in the kernel to do that with partial success.
Which one is a better way to do this? Are there any other ways?

Thanks,
Sadik

Dans sa prose, Sadik Aral Bozkirli nous ecrivait :
> I'm looking for an Ethernet failover solution.
[...]
> Load balancing might or might not be needed but failover is a must.

> I think this can be done using ethernet "bonding". I also tried to use
> the "bridge" module in the kernel to do that with partial success.

Bridge can be at most a workaround, but definitly not a solution.

Bonding is definitly what you need. Just read
Documentation/networking/bonding.txt within kernel sources, there's a full
high availability section that cover your needs.

BTW, using two different switches does not really fit load balancing
needs, as the same MAC on two different switches at the same time leads to
confusion. You'll have to configure the interfaces in active backup : one
remains slient until the other gets down. Take care that failover stuff
only relies on link status. If your switch stops forwarding but link
remains up (partial fault), then no fallback will occur.

--
BOFH excuse #137:

User was distributing pornography on server; system seized by FBI.