What is the primary function of an FHRP like HSRP or VRRP?

The primary function of an FHRP (First Hop Redundancy Protocol) like HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol) or VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol) is to provide redundancy for IP routing. These protocols are designed to ensure that network devices can continue to communicate in the event of a failure of the primary gateway. By using an active and standby router configuration, FHRPs enable a seamless transition of traffic in case one router goes offline, thus maintaining network reliability and availability.

In a typical deployment, one router is elected as the active router and is responsible for forwarding traffic, while another router is designated as a standby router, ready to take over if the active router fails. This setup minimizes downtime and enhances the fault tolerance of the network without requiring any change in the default gateway configuration on client devices.

Other options do not align with the primary role of FHRP protocols. Load balancing involves distributing traffic across multiple connections or routes, which is handled differently than redundancy protocols. Static IP address mapping refers to the process of assigning a fixed IP address to a device, and while this can be part of a network strategy, it is not the focus of FHRP. Lastly, security and encryption for data do not pert