VRRP Version 2 and Version 3 in DELL Networking OS10 Switches

Summary: This article explores some of the key differences between VRRP Version 2 and 3 and how to change the VRRP version in DELL OS10 Switches.

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Instructions

Overview

  1. What is VRRP
  2. Why use VRRP Version 3
  3. Difference between VRRP Version 2 and VRRP Version 3 in OS10
  4. Points to be noted before changing VRRP Version to 3
  5. Configuration
  6. Sample Configuration
  7. Verify The Configuration

What is VRRP

VRRP allows to configure virtual routers from groups of physical routers/layer three switches on a LAN. These virtual routing platforms form primary and backup pairs.
VRRP helps us to avoid a single point of failure of a routers/layer three switches in the network.

NOTE: DELL OS 10 Supports VRRP Version 2 and Version 3

Why use VRRP Version 3

VRRP Version 3 supports both IPv4 and IPv6. VRRP Version 2 does not support IPv6.

Difference between VRRP Version 2 and VRRP Version 3 in OS10

Feature VRRP Version 3 VRRP Version 2
IPv6 Supported Not Supported
Authentication Not Supported Simple Text
Timer CentiSeconds Seconds
IEEE RFC Number 3768 5798

* 1 CentiSecond = 0.01 Second

NOTE: Change VRRP versions only after sufficient planning.

Points to be Noted Before Changing VRRP Version to 3

  • OS10 Switches currently only support Version 2 or 3 in global mode. This means, in your switches, if VRRP V2 is already configured and working, changing VRRP Version 3 affects your working VRRP.
  • VRRP V3 must be enabled manually on all switches in the network.
  • The VRRP advertisement in version 3 is calculated in Centiseconds compared to seconds in version 2. If we have three misses, then the primary switch election takes place. Hence if timer vales are altered to lower values, packet misses for less than one second trigger a reelection which may impact the network. Sometimes this can be undesirable.
  • If you try to configure authentication for VRRP version 3 in OS10 cli, it gives you an error "Authentication not valid with VRRP version 3 groups." This is because Authentication is not supported in VRRP version 3
  • If VRRPv2 is already configured and working, changing to VRRPv3 might require deleting all existing VRRP configuration and reapplying VRRPv3 compliant configuration.
  • If VRRPv3 is already configured and working, changing to VRRPv2 might require deleting all existing VRRP configuration and reapplying VRRPv2 compliant configuration.

Configuration

Command Parameter
OS10# configure terminal Enter configuration mode
OS10(config)# vrrp version 3 Configure VRRP Version 3
OS10(config)# vrrp version 2 Configure VRRP Version 2
NOTE: From OS10 Version 10.4.1.0, the option to have both VRRP Version 2 and 3 is removed.

Sample Configuration

OS10# configure terminal
OS10(config)# vrrp version 3

Options available

OS10(config)# vrrp version ?
  2                  Support VRRP version 2
  3                  Support VRRP version 3

Error when we try to configure authentication in VRRPv3.

OS10(conf-vlan2-vrid-1)# authentication simple-text test
% Error: VRRP : Authentication not valid with VRRP version 3 groups.

Verify The Configuration

OS10(conf)# show vrrp brief
Interface    Group   Priority   Preempt   State        Version    Primary addr(s)                  Virtual addr
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
vlan1            IPv4 1    100       true        init-state       3             0.0.0.0                         10.0.0.1

Differences between VRRP Version 2 and 3 and how to change the VRRP version in DELL OS10 Switches.

From OS10 Version 10.4.1.0, the option to have both VRRP Version 2 and 3 is removed.

 

Affected Products

PowerSwitch S3048-ON, PowerSwitch S4048-ON, Dell EMC Networking MX5108n, PowerSwitch S4048T-ON, PowerSwitch S4112F-ON/S4112T-ON, PowerSwitch S4128F-ON/S4128T-ON, PowerSwitch S4148F-ON/S4148T-ON/S4148FE-ON, PowerSwitch S4248FB-ON /S4248FBL-ON , PowerSwitch S5212F-ON, PowerSwitch S5224F-ON, PowerSwitch S5232F-ON, PowerSwitch S5248F-ON, PowerSwitch S5296F-ON, PowerSwitch S6100-ON, PowerSwitch Z9100-ON, PowerSwitch Z9264F-ON, SmartFabric OS10 Software ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000135285
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 17 Jul 2025
Version:  8
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