What is the main purpose of FHRP protocols?

The main purpose of First Hop Redundancy Protocols (FHRP) is to provide redundancy for the default gateway in a network. In a scenario where end devices need to communicate outside their local subnet, they require a default gateway. If this gateway were to fail, those devices would lose their ability to communicate with the outside world. FHRP protocols, such as HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol), VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol), and GLBP (Gateway Load Balancing Protocol), enable multiple routers to work together to ensure that if the primary gateway fails, a backup gateway automatically takes over without requiring reconfiguration or intervention. This redundancy increases network reliability and availability, allowing seamless communication even in the event of hardware failures.

Understanding the function of FHRP protocols is crucial for maintaining a resilient network infrastructure, as they deal specifically with the critical role of gateways in routing traffic to other networks.