Add MX into Cisco classic VRRP/HSRP setup?

[MarcP]

Hi everyone,

May I ask, is there any chance to add an MX65/MX68 into a existing Cisco Classic VRRP/HSRP Setup?

I assume "NO", but just want to get sure, as they are two different vendors.

Regards

Marc

[BrechtSchamp · Accepted solution]

No it indeed isn't as you can't really configure anything about it.

Same goes for the switches where it is documented:

https://documentation.meraki.com/MS/Layer_3_Switching/MS_Warm_Spare_(VRRP)_Overview

"At this time Cisco Meraki MS Series switches can only be configured in pairs from the same family when using VRRP/Warm Spare. Integration with other vendors or platforms is currently not supported.

Ex. An MS250 can only be paired with another MS250."

[MarcP]

Thanks @BrechtSchamp as expected...

This will make it much more harder for me to find a solution for the task I have to do 😞

[MarcP]

Further question, anyway, @BrechtSchamp Would it be possible with other vendors or is this something which is not working with multiple vendors?

I am not used to these protocols since today :S

[BrechtSchamp]

---

@MarcP wrote:

Further question, anyway, @BrechtSchamp Would it be possible with other vendors or is this something which is not working with multiple vendors?

I am not used to these protocols since today :S

---

VRRP is a standard (RFC 5798) yes so in theory, if you can align the parameters you should be able to make it work. But in practice... I guess it'll depend. Sorry for that answer 🙄.

[jdsilva]

---

@BrechtSchamp wrote:

VRRP is a standard (RFC 5798) yes so in theory, if you can align the parameters you should be able to make it work. But in practice... I guess it'll depend. Sorry for that answer 🙄.

---

So yes, but no. Meraki almost follows the RFC. Almost. They break with how the MAC of the Virtual Router is calculated. Instead of a multicast MAC with an OUI of 00:00:5e they use their own Meraki OUI of cc:03:d9 (in every instance that I've observed, they might use other OUI's too). Because they use this non-standard calculation for the Virtual Router MAC you won't be able to interoperate Meraki's VRRP with a standards based VRRP 😞

https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5798#section-7.3