Redundant IP connections for Mac OS X Server

Question

Redundant IP connections for Mac OS X Server

Hi,

We lost our Verizon DSL Service for 10 days due to flooding caused by hurricane Sandy in NYC.

All our DNS, Web, and email run on our server and we were lost to the world for those 10 days!

We have now upgraded to higher speed Time Warner broadband service for our primary, but still want to retain the Verizon DSL for redundancy.

Our hope is that if we have any connectivity issues with one, the other will hopefully be functioning and carry us through.

I have tried to research exactly how to configure our iMac based OS 10.6.8 Snow Leopard server to function properly in such a manner.

i.e. One server connected to the internet via two separate ISP connections (DSL & DOCIS cable modem)

I understand I will have to update our DNS (maintained on server) to properly reference BOTH static ip addresses and to set up a mail2.xx.com server to take over in case the mail.xx.com connection fails etc. etc.

I realize that our iMac has just ONE built in ethernet port, but Apple sells a USB to ethernet adaptors that can hopefully address this issue as well.

I would like to have 3 ethernet ports on my iMac - Port 1 to DoCIS/cable modem, Port 2 to DSL, and Port 3 to my network switch. This way the server connects directly to both the the internet connections, and the rest of the network connects to the internet through the server (and it's firewall)

i.e.

Internet (2 connections) > Server > Intranet

I cannot find any information on how to accomplish this on a Mac Server, and would appreciate any help, links etc. to put me on the right track.

Thank you in advance for your kind help.

Regards,

Rohin

Posted on Nov 8, 2012 10:19 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 8, 2012 10:28 AM in response to Rohin Hattiangadi

Here's something that popped up after I posted my question - suggests using an internet load balancer? Anyone use this successfully with Mac Os X?

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/861552

I came across another post where someone recommended another such product from Barracuda.

Is this the easiest way to accomplish what I want, and has anyone done this successfuly for email/dns/ etc.

Thanks!

Reply

Answer 2

Nov 8, 2012 11:03 AM in response to Rohin Hattiangadi

Rohin Hattiangadi wrote:

Hi,

We lost our Verizon DSL Service for 10 days due to flooding caused by hurricane Sandy in NYC.

All our DNS, Web, and email run on our server and we were lost to the world for those 10 days!

We have now upgraded to higher speed Time Warner broadband service for our primary, but still want to retain the Verizon DSL for redundancy.

Our hope is that if we have any connectivity issues with one, the other will hopefully be functioning and carry us through.

Not answering what you are asking, but addressing the redundancy issue ...

If you have a disaster like Sandy, with damage over a wide area, how sure are you that one of your connections will work? If for example the cabling is going through a common duct somewhere, your redundancy could be only theoretical. I know an installation that wanted reliable, disaster-proof communications, and paid for three services - and was offline when a builder a couple of miles up the road put his digger (back hoe?) through the shared pipe. Unless you can get guaranteed separation of service, it is not worth the extra cost and effort. Consider instead moving your server to a data centre, where they will already have addressed the issue, and your total cost may be no greater.

Reply

Answer 3

Nov 8, 2012 11:16 AM in response to Austin Kinsella1

Hi Austin,

We have frequent issues with our DSL so need a backup anyway (Actually our DSL will become the backup)

interestingly enough we did not lose any power (at all) in our office, or the Verizon central office (in neighborhood) - the problem we had was due the Verizon servers being flooded out further downtown on Broad street. Time Warner cable in our office worked throughout.

Data Center - a bit of a control freak which is why I run our own server, but Data Centers were flooded out (massively) in NYC - Please speak to Ms. Huffington about one of those 🙂 (Her's failed..)

I know this will not be a catch all but want a little more reliability in our life

Thanks for the input - Rohin

Reply

Answer 4

Nov 8, 2012 2:17 PM in response to Rohin Hattiangadi

I believe this is the way to go...

http://support.netgear.com/product/FVS336Gv2

It allows you to plug in and configure two separate WAN/ISP connections (from different providers etc.)

You can either use them both simultaneously (Load balancing mode) or one at a time in fail-over mode (switches from primary to secondary if primary fails)

The router itself sets itself up on the LAN as 192.168.254.1 and also allows for Safari compatible web configuration= Mac Friendly 🙂

Reasonably priced as well (<$250) - Will definitely update this thread.

Reply

Answer 5

Nov 14, 2012 11:29 AM in response to Rohin Hattiangadi

Hi,

Bought the FVS336Gv2 and it works exactly as advertised.

I now have two external WAN Ip's / ISP's hooked up to the gateway router

One is Time Warner Cable (NY) 35Mbps Down/5Mbps Up

One is Verizon DSL (NY) 3Mbps Down/ .768 Mbps Up

I have load balancing right now, but as you can see there is quite a disparity between the two services (Verizon DSL is now my backup/redundancy line)

Hence I am diverting certain services like smtp / http etc. through the Primary (Time Warner)

This is working extremely well and I have full redundancy going. Just a few minor changes to my dns (OS X Snow Leopard Server)

Very satisfied.. i

Reply