What is the difference between VRRP and HSRP?

VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol) and HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol) are both protocols used for providing redundancy in a network by allowing multiple routers to work together. The main difference between VRRP and HSRP lies in their vendor compatibility and the way they handle failover.

1. Vendor Compatibility: VRRP is an open standard protocol, which means it is not tied to any specific vendor and can be implemented on routers from different manufacturers. On the other hand, HSRP is a Cisco proprietary protocol, meaning it can only be used on Cisco routers.

2. Failover Handling: VRRP uses a master-election process where one router is elected as the master and the others act as backups. If the master router fails, one of the backups takes over as the new master. HSRP, on the other hand, uses an active-standby model where one router is active and handles all the traffic, while the standby router remains idle until the active router fails. When the active router fails, the standby router takes over.

In summary, the main difference between VRRP and HSRP is that VRRP is an open standard protocol compatible with routers from different vendors, while HSRP is a Cisco proprietary protocol. Additionally, VRRP uses a master-election process, whereas HSRP uses an active-standby model for failover.