What is dual-homing?

Dual-homing is a network design technique that involves connecting a single network device or system to two separate networks. The purpose of dual-homing is to provide redundancy and high availability for critical network services and applications.

In a dual-homed network setup, the single device has two separate network connections, each connected to a different network or Internet service provider. This configuration can be used for load balancing and redundancy purpose.

In some cases, dual-homing can be configured for failover, where one connection acts as the primary while the other acts as the secondary connection. During normal operation, traffic is divided between both connections or internet service, giving the network increased capacity and better performance.

However, in case of one connection failure, the secondary connection takes over, thereby providing redundancy, uptime, and business continuity that ensures that the network and its services remain accessible and available at all times.

Dual-homing is commonly used in mission-critical environments such as data centers, financial institutions, and public safety organizations, where network availability and uptime are vital.