What does the acronym 'FHRP' stand for?

The acronym 'FHRP' stands for First Hop Redundancy Protocol. This protocol is crucial in ensuring network reliability and availability. It allows multiple routers to work together to present a single virtual gateway to hosts on a local area network. This means that if one router fails, another router can take over without the hosts needing to change their configurations or routes.

First Hop Redundancy Protocols are designed to reduce downtime and maintain the flow of traffic within a network. Common examples of FHRPs include Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), and Gateway Load Balancing Protocol (GLBP). These protocols help manage the redundancy of default gateways in a way that enhances network resilience.

Understanding FHRP is essential in network design and management, as it helps prevent single points of failure and ensures continuous connectivity for devices relying on IP routing.