GRE - Recursive loops
Introduction
This document provides you an example configuration on how to overcome recursive routing issue while using GRE tunnels.
Prerequisites
It is assumed that reader already has knowledge of routing protocols and is aware of GRE configuration.
Components used
Cisco 3700 series Router loaded with IOS 12.4(2)T has been used for this document.
Configuration
For Initial configuration, these routers are learning all the routes using RIP protocol. If you are interested in seeing initial configuration, please have a look at the files attached.
Now let’s suppose R1 and R3 have networks connected behind them and both router R1 and R3 need to know about all those networks and because of scalability issues that we have with RIP protocol, we need to run some other protocol. Let that protocol be EIGRP. Also, let’s suppose that because of resources limitation we can’t run EIGRP on R2. So you decide to use GRE tunnel between routers R1 and R3.
Here is the configuration for the same:
| R1 | R3 |
|---|---|
interface Tunnel13 ip address 100.1.13.1 255.255.255.0 tunnel source Loopback0 tunnel destination 3.3.3.3 end | interface Tunnel31 ip address 100.1.13.3 255.255.255.0 tunnel source Loopback0 tunnel destination 1.1.1.1 end |
Now as soon as we enable EIGRP and run it on tunnel interface and the loo 0 interface, we get following error:
This happens because the tunnel interface status depends on the reachability to tunnel destination. In our case R1 and R3 find reachability to tunnel destination using RIP. As soon as we enable EIGRP on loo 0 interfaces, the routers find reachability to tunnel destination through tunnel and that’s what causes the recursive loop.
To overcome this situation, an access-list in configured which identifies the IP add of tunnel destination. Then, AD of this route is configured lower than EIGRP. Once this is done router find better path to tunnel destination throught RIP and tunnel comes up (you may have to clear routing table at this point).
| R1 | R3 |
|---|---|
R1#show access-lists Standard IP access list 1 10 permit 3.0.0.0 (100 matches) R1#show run | sec rip router rip version 2 network 1.0.0.0 network 10.0.0.0 distance 89 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 1 no auto-summary | R3#show access-list Standard IP access list 1 10 permit 1.0.0.0 (98 matches) R3#sho run | sec rip router rip version 2 network 3.0.0.0 network 10.0.0.0 distance 89 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 1 no auto-summary |
Network Diagram
Verify
Here, you can see the routing table of R1 and R3
I hope you found this worth your time, thank you!
