Skip to content

Comment on Ask HN: A network device that doesn't exist?

Comments

A simple homebrew option would be to get an intermediary box @ 192.168.1.1, stick all three routers into it, but keep only one of three links up. Then have a script on the box ping outside and switch to the next router on ping failure. I.e. if (ping 1.1.1.1 -c 1) fails N times in a row, bring current router link down (ip link set <dev> down) and bring next one up (ip link set <dev> up). Rinse and repeat.

Alternatively, you can keep all router links up, NAT their 192.168.1.1 to unique IPs and then have the script change the default route. This setup will allow for checking if previously failed higher priority router regained its connectivity and switching back to it if it did.

Yes, that would be the solution with a "box" that needs to have at least 4 ethernet ports, to which this or that Linux mini distro is installed and configured, I was looking for something already made and tested/easily configurable.

As you detailed, the way of working of this hypothetical device is simple enough (maybe too simple) and I thought that something like that existed and I was simply unable to find it.

AboutSource Built by g1lg1l

Hackerly is an independent reader for Hacker News, built on the public HN API. Not affiliated with Y Combinator.