OWA and multiple routers

[newtoitall]

Hi

I need to apply backup procedure for OWA. We have multiple routers connected to a firewall connected to exchange. A the moment I have 1 A record for webmail.domain.com that points to one of the routers and the firewall port forwards the request to exchange.

Problem is, if that router goes down, then users cannot access webmail

What is the best way of configuring so if router 1 is down then trip over to router 2.

I thought it was just a case of creating a second A record for webmail.domain.com to point to router 2. But haven't done this before, not sure if it works in the same way as MX records by preference, I,e if IP 1 doesn’t respond try IP 2

PLease help

 

[58sniper]

Creating a second A record (for webmail.domain.com) to use a different route would be round robin DNS. The problem is that that's more of a load balancing solution, not a fault tolerance solution.

You could use some sort of hardware load balancing solution if it supports that option.

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP

 

[Knackster]

Are you having an issue with your router going down?

You might want to address that before worrying about redundancy.

Chris
IT Manager
Houston, Texas

 

[PScottC]

You basically have 3 choices...

1) Manually change IP in external DNS only if in an extended outage (DR or planned) (EASY)

2) Create a second A record webmail2.domain.com and train users to connect to that if the first doesn't work. (EASY)

3) Work with your ISP to set up BGP on your border routers(VERY VERY HARD)

I have done 1 & 3 and option 3 is difficult and expensive (And worse if working with multiple ISPs and sites).

Good Luck!


PSC

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