STANDBY ROUTER PROTOCOL

摘要

A system and protocol are provided for routing data packets from a host (H2) on a LAN (L) through a virtual address (R4) belonging to a group or routers (126). The host (H2) is configured to point to the virtual address (R4) so that the packets it sends out of its LAN are always directed to a virtual router which may be any one of the group of routers (126). An active router (R5) in the group of routers emulates the virtual router (R4). A standby router (R6), also from the group of routers (126), backs up the active router (R5) so that if the active router becomes inoperative, the standby router (R6) automatically begins emulating the virtual router. The host (H2) does not know which router from the group (126) is actually handling the data packets it sends. If the standby router (R6) becomes inoperative or takes over for the active router, other routers in the group (126) hold an election to determine which of them should take over for the standby router.