RE: [fw-wiz] PIX stateful failover and crossover cables

From: Jason Hamilton (Jason.Hamilton_at_InfoTechFL.Com)
Date: 01/21/05

  • Next message: Kevin: "Re: [fw-wiz] Once again..appliance firewall input requested"
    To: firewall-wizards@honor.icsalabs.com
    Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:20:34 -0500
    
    

    The documentation on Cisco's site shows that the statefull failover can
    be set up in 3 different ways:
     
    From the installation guide on failover off of the CCO--
     
    <snip>
    Step 6 If you are using Stateful Failover, use one of the following types
    of connections, that is appropriate for your system, between the dedicated
    interfaces on the PIX Firewall units:
                                                                                                                               
    •Cat 5 crossover cable directly connecting the Primary unit to the
    Secondary unit.
                                                                                                                               
    •100BaseTX half-duplex hub using straight Cat 5 cables.
                                                                                                                               
    •100BaseTX full-duplex on a dedicated switch or dedicated VLAN of a switch
    <pins>
     
    Currently I have a system deployed with that configuration(cross-over cable)
    and have seen no issues with the failover capabilities.
     
     
    Your mileage may vary
     
    Jason

    On Fri, Jan 21, 2005 at 02:16:42PM -0600, Crissup, John (MBNP is) wrote:
    > I have seen whitepapers from Cisco about configuring a stateful failover
    > link that specifically states not to use a crossover. I'm not sure why,
    > wouldn't think it should matter, but they have put it in writing. I
    > honestly can't remember at the moment if I created a VLAN for two ports, or
    > if I just used a cross-over anyway. I'd have to go look.
    >
    > I would search the CCO site for how to configure the link to find the
    > statement.
    >
    > --
    > John
    >
    >
    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: firewall-wizards-admin@honor.icsalabs.com
    > [mailto:firewall-wizards-admin@honor.icsalabs.com] On Behalf Of Dave
    > Breiland
    > Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 11:13 AM
    > To: mkrbeck@hushmail.com
    > Cc: firewall-wizards@honor.icsalabs.com
    > Subject: Re: [fw-wiz] PIX stateful failover and crossover cables
    >
    > I sent the link a minute ago, but the quote resembling your question is...
    >
    > "A dedicated LAN interface and a dedicated switch (or VLAN) is required to
    > implement LAN-based failover. You cannot use a crossover Ethernet cable to
    > connect the two PIX security appliances."
    >
    > HOWEVER... I know that I have used crossover cables several times... and
    > know many people who feel it is acceptable. It may not be best practice
    > though.
    >
    > Dave
    >
    >
    >
    > mkrbeck@hushmail.com wrote:
    >
    > >I recall reading a detailed technical paper recently on the cisco site
    > >where it was recommended that pix stateful interface traffic always be
    > >passed thru a switch (as opposed to a x-over cable) between a pair of
    > >pix chassis, regardless of whether the deployment is serial cable or
    > >LAN failover, however I cannot find it again, would anyone have a link
    > >for it or a copy ??
    > >
    > >thanks
    > >Martyn Beck

    -- 
    Jason Hamilton, System Administrator    |   5700 SW 34th St. Suite 1235
    Info Tech, Inc.                         |   Gainesville, FL 32608
    Jason.Hamilton@InfoTechFl.com           |   (352)381-4400 
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