Wired Intelligent Edge

Hello,

Is it possible to deploy the Keepalive link using a dedicated Layer 3 dynamic aggregation group interface instead of just using a dedicated single routed interface?

Something like (considering also a dedicated VRF):

switch(config)# vrf keep-alive-link
switch(config)# interface lag 127
switch(config-lag-if)# no shutdown
switch(config-lag-if)# lacp mode active
switch(config-lag-if)# ip address a.b.c.d/31
switch(config-lag-if)# vrf attach keep-alive-link
switch(config-lag-if)# interface 1/1/47
switch(config-if)# lag 127
switch(config-if)# no shutdown
switch(config-if)# interface 1/1/48
switch(config-if)# lag 127
switch(config-if)# no shutdown

Kind regards, Davide.

Hello,

Yes this is possible however it does not bring much benefits. Keepalive is a protection mechanism in case of ISL failure. It is not required to have redanduncy for keepalive. However, it is important to make sure that keepalive communication is not impacted during ISL cut.

Hello Vincent,

Thanks for your explanation, pretty reasonable to use just a single link (more or less is exactly like IRF BFD). I asked because I was just wondering if creating a two interfaces LAG for the VSX Keepalive link would be, at first, possible and, if implemented, in case of VSX ISL links all down to have a more resilent heartbeat between VSX nodes would have helped (in any case, as suggested, a separate VRF specifically defined for VSX Keepalive should be used to keep it separated from anything could happen to VSX ISL).

Kind regards, Davide.

Understood. I don't think that extra redundancy is justified as you consumme an other dedicated port for that. By the way, to minimize cost, as keepalive traffic is very small, you can use 1G speed.