high availability w/ redundant layer 2 switches causing loop on my test network

[se_marc]

@johnpoz i don't have an actual second ISP to test with so I was using LANs as my two "ISPs". I will get some managed switches to test on my lab internally but would the most recent diagram I posted work if i actually have 2 ISPs and keep the dumb switches?

[johnpoz]

You can keep the dumb switches, but you have dumb switch A connecting them, and then you connect them together again with a cable = LOOP!

[se_marc]

@johnpoz sorry, i'm a bit confused. i didn't include dumb switch A in the most recent diagram.

[Derelict]

@se_marc This is how you would do it.

This cannot be done with "cheap" gear.

Some gear that can do this that used to be expensive is now not very expensive on eBay, etc.

[johnpoz]

@se_marc said in high availability w/ redundant layer 2 switches causing loop on my test network:

i didn't include dumb switch A in the most recent diagram.

My point was what you posted as how to set it up, what not what you had before.

A dumb switch is not a ISP device that would not bridge the connections together..

Your drawing showing 2 isp, you can not replace that isp device with a dumb switch - which becomes really a wire.. And now you have 2 wires connecting 2 dumb switches - big fat loop!

To derelicts point - what your trying to do with a HA setup is not meant to be done with cheap dumb home gear. If you want to play with a lab to do this sort of stuff, you need equipment that can do a min amount of enterprise level sort of stuff. Which stp is common on even the cheapest of smart switches.

Or yeah get on ebay and get some enterprise gear for cheap..

[se_marc]

@johnpoz @Derelict I haven't given up just yet lol. I took some time to think things over and I feel like I'm getting closer. The managed switches will be ubiquiti so RSTP will be enabled. To my understanding that means ports 3 & 4 on Managed Switches B and D will be blocked unless something happens the the either ports 5 & 6 on Managed Switch A or one of the WAN ports on pfSense Main. same would go for the second ISP. Would i need to connect Managed Switch A to Managed Switch B, and then C to D?

[johnpoz]

Trying to lagg into 2 disconnected switches not something that is normally an option. When you lagg into multiple switches like you have it draw. The switches are part of stack.

Are your A and B, and then C,D stacked?

Notice the drawing Derelict posted.

[se_marc]

@johnpoz crud, to my knowledge unifi switches do not support official stacking but a common trend is to connect them together via SFP ports and then relying on RSTP. This causes half speed of the LAGG router ports.

[johnpoz]

Then its not really a lagg now is it ;) hehehe

[Derelict]

People call all sorts of things a "lagg."

I consider everything except proper LACP which generally requires either stacking or multi-chassis trunking, etc.

[AndyRH]

I wanted to play a network guy on TV, so I bought one of these on eBay. It will do everything in your drawing in one switch. Great for play time.

Aruba S2500-48P-US <- has 10Gb SFP+ ports, POE, VLANs, semi-loud fans... All the enterprise features for under $200.

[johnpoz]

@derelict said in high availability w/ redundant layer 2 switches causing loop on my test network:

People call all sorts of things a "lagg."

Very true - its a kind of a catch all.. I was thinking lacp, which yeah you need a stack..