[NTLUG:Discuss] OT: BGP anyone? I've got two defaut routes and don't know which to choose.

[Jack Snodgrass]

I have a PC ( network  actually, but let's just keep it simple. ) that has two T1 connections 
to two different ISP networks. Both of the T1 routers ( Cisco 1720 ) are running BGP as set
up by the ISP people. The network is set up so that the Class C addresses that we are using 
come in on either T1.  Getting to my network over either T1 from the internet is ok. 

Going out is a different story. One option ( that I can think of ) is to use a Linux box that has 
access to both T1s. I'd like to have something ( BGP maybe ) that will let the system decide 
WHICH T1 to set up as the default route. Any machine on the network will specify the 
linux box as it's default route. The linux box will decide which T1 to use. Do I need to set up 
BGP... or is there something similar... but less complex/powerful that I'd should use instead? 

One of the ISP Techs said that I could run ihbgp ( something like that ) between the two 
routers if I connected them up with a WIC card. Another ISP tech said that I would 
need a different, dual port Cisco router that I'd plug both T1s into. I don't know if either
of them really knew what they were talking about. 

I am 75% concerned with just Which Interface is up and operational. I'm 25% concerned with 
which interface is better for a particular conection or period in time. 

I know that I can just set two default routes but I never have figured out which one is used. 
If one of the routes is 'unreachable', does it always go to the 'good' one or is it 50/50 or 
what? 

Any info would be appreciated. 

jack



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