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How can I configure my router so that if one of my two DSL lines goes down, the other line will take

I have two DSL lines and one Cisco router with two Ethernet interfaces. How can I configure the router so that if one of the lines goes down, the other will take over?

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There are a few different ways to handle this.

One option you have is to create a floating static route for the same destination with a higher metric. For example:

Ip route 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0 eth0
Ip route 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0 eth1 50

The second serves as a floating static route and will be activated only if eth0 goes down.

Another solution is to use a backup interface command under eth0. (i.e. "backup interface eth1"). It will then activate if eth0 goes down.

Another option is to use a dynamic routing protocol. However, this can only be done if your DSL service provider agrees to it.

This was first published in June 2004

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