Tag: India

Now its Telangana

Telangana: What’s this now? One more state? On what basics? How fair the demand is now?Telangana“ Dec 10, 2009, at 11th day of “fast unto death”  by K Chandrasekhara Rao: the president of Telangana Rashtra Samiti resulted in ‘meltdown’ of Government of India announcing to initiate the process of state of Telangana in Andhra Pradesh assembly. ”

What’s this now?

Its not a new demand, but been here since independence, just like as we have issue of Kashmir. In fact, even States Reorganization Commission (SRC) wasn’t in favour of merging Telangana and Andhra due to the proportional distribution of resource-n-profit issues, just like  Jharkhand movement. In fact, there was a "Gentlemen’s agreement" to provider reassurances to the Telangana people as well to Andhra people in terms of power sharing as well as administrative domicile rules and distribution of expenses of various regions, which shows that it was not a minor issue from the start.

The issue rose again by 1969, when the guarantees that had been agreed on were supposed to lapse by Gentlemen’s agreement. Student agitation for the continuation of the agreement began at Osmania University in Hyderabad and spread to other parts of the region. Government employees and opposition members of the state legislative assembly swiftly threatened "direct action" in support of the students. This movement, also known as Telangana movement, led to widespread violence and deaths of hundreds of people and students of this Telangana region. Approximately 360 students gave their lives in this movement.

One more state?

The movement got new wings in 1990, when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), promised a separate Telangana state if they came to power. BJP even created Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarkhand states in year 2000 as promised. But the BJP could not create a separate Telangana state because of the opposition from its coalition partner, Telugu Desam Party. These developments brought new life into the separatist Telangana movement by year 2000. As an opposition reaction, Congress party MLAs from the Telangana region, supported a separate Telangana state and formed the Telangana Congress Legislators Forum.

“ In another development, a new party called Telangana Rashtra Samithi (or TRS) was formed with the single point agenda of creating a separate Telangana state, with Hyderabad as its capital lead by Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhar Rao popularily known as KCR. ”

The point was “If we could have three new states added, then why not one more, which is equally demanded since long?”

On what basics?

Before the independence, India was consisting of around 500 states (I am not counting estates a.k.a. jagirs here), out of which list of around 200 could be found here. This long list somehow was managed to be shortened by Sardar Patel to 28 States and 7 Union territories. Among many other factors, the basics of combing many states into one, were linguistic. Although that was not very prominent or strict, otherwise, Telangana was a separate state since right then, due to its Telgu speaking community.

One more interesting comment was made about danger to national unity, if states keep on creating like this.

“ Out of the 35 states currently in India (28 states and 7 central possessions), 70% are smaller than Telangana. Telangana’s population is 30 million plus. There are 25 states that are smaller than Telangana. If these twenty-five don’t cause national unity issues, why would creation of a larger state be any dangerous? ”

So, there are basics, but the question is continuation.  You take one right demand through and get more wrong demands in with more violent means.

How fair the demand is now?

As far as the demand is concerned, theoretically it was already approved, when on 9 October 2008, in a historical turnaround from its 26-year history TDP announced its support for the creation of Telengana and in February 2009, state government declared that it had no objection, in principle, to the formation of separate Telangana and that the time had come to move forward decisively on this issue. To resolve issues related to it the government constituted joint house committee. Ahead of the 2009 General Elections in India all the major parties in Andhra Pradesh supported Telangana state.

So, it was just matter of time and of a stone in pond anytime. Telangana movement also has a blog, you can check.

Conflicting issues:

If we talk about issues of conflict, then there are plenty and the biggest issue is Hyderabad.

Hyderabad: As per proposed structure of Telangana, Hyderabad: one of the most developed city is going to the about to be created state and this is sure a reason of agony among people of Andhra, who says that they built Hyderabad in the shape, it is today and snatching it from their hand, is plain injustice and none of Andhra people are ready to accept this.

On the other side, people from Telangana says, Hyderabad was a famous, richer, beautiful and developed city even then when Andhra took over it against the will of local Telgu speaking people there. Its kind of taking back, which was taken once, which seems no where wrong. Moreover, its just re-organization of political regime and machinery otherwise whomever staying where, will be continued to be there, whomever working where, will continue to work in the same way. If you wish to take profits from our resources, then should have given the same share back to our community as well.

“ In my opinion, this is sure a tough issue and that’s why many big political leaders from here (like PV Narasimha Rao, Marri Chenna Reddy , T. Anjiah) tried their best to stay away from it. In most of reasoning, it seems to be personal interests of Telangana Leaders as they will receive all the attention and powers, which they are not getting in proper proportion right now. But the trend is far more dangerous as the same reason is underlying many other fair/ unfair demands which gonna be flooded after this. Even it may push Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh movements in wrong directions as well. ”   

so, here is another local vs migrates issue, even Indian-British, Bihar–Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh–Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh–Uttarakhand been of the same nature, will it be accepted?

Implications of acceptance for a new state:

If accepted, then the creation of Telangana is going to generate thrust for other demands as well like some already announced. Some majors are:

  1. First come from Andhra itself, where not to be left behind on the statehood issue, politicians from Rayalaseema region have demanded separate statehood for the backward region, saying they would agree to division of the state to create Telangana only if their demand for Greater Rayalaseema is acceded to.
  2. The next is Assam tribes (Bodos, Karbis and Dimasas) demanding Bodoland, Dimaraji and Karbi Homeland respectively.
  3. Uttar Pradesh is also not behind in these demands with the names Harit Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Purvanchal.
  4. From Maharashtra, its Vidarbha, who wants to be separated as a state.
  5. Bihar has demands of Mithila state comprising of some part of West Bengal as well.
  6. In Himachal Pradesh, GJM claimed to have its demand since 1907 for separate Gorkhaland.

“ We are about to invite some more movements, precisely ten of above at least with the announcement of new state for Telangana. Question is “Can we afford? and is it really that important for development of Telangana people? Cant it be done while being united? ”

I could have wrote that decision is yours, but I know common man can do nothing about it. These kind of politics will move on with their extreme necessity coz that’s their job. Here I am doing my part by writing a few facts about.

Comments are most welcome.

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

 

Sachin Tendulkar: The little genius confirmed it again

We always called him a wonder boy, the little genius, greatest of the greatest. We always placed our all hopes over his shoulders every time he walks out for bat and he given new wing for those hopes. He moved step by step to place himself so high in cricket books, where no one could have reached, we cheered for him, we shouted his name and the boy always replied with a decent smile.

Days passed, months piled up, years added in memories of we all Indians, but one place, the greatest place, was always secured for the man himself; Sachin Tendulkar.

He moved into his second inning, we saw him struggling sometimes, we saw many of his co-players depart in their ways, but he was there like a rock. We saw him ageing, when he said NO to twenty-twenty, but his rising form always kept us guessing that how many more years ahead in this little ‘boy’. Yes! he always remained the same cute boy.

Today on 5th November 2009, we saw again that what he still has in him. We saw him towering 175 runs in just 141 balls with 19 fours and 4 sixes in it. We saw him showing the way to once impossible looking victory. Unfortunately, the history (Chennai, 1999) repeated itself.

That match was vs Pak at Chennai, 1999
Sachin’s score: 136 (probably his best innings to date) in the 4th innings on a vicious turner Sachin coming in at: 6 for 2. Gets worse to 82 for 5(Ganguly’s controversial dismissal). Sachin is the 7th wicket to fall at 254 with India chasing 271. A commentator pointed out an interesting statistic about this game – India made 6 runs before Sachin came to the crease and made 4 more runs after Sachin got out. So, all India could muster without Sachin was a mere 10 runs!!

Match Result: India lose

Today; Match was vs Australia at Uppal, Hyderabad, 2009

Sachin’s score: 175, I will say the best of him till date. He started the innings with Sehwag and remained on crease till 47.1 overs, chasing a target of 350 and he left on a situation requiring only 18 runs more in 17 balls, three wickets in hand, but where the man himself in age of 36 years 195 days faced 141 balls, the rest three wickets could stand only for 15 balls adding just 15 more runs. Other high scores fro the same team were 59, 38, 23 and 17.

Match Result: India lose

What more you could expect from someone who started his ODI career from 18 december 1989? Almost twenty years and he still stands better than the rest. Will anyone question him again?

photo of Nitish KumarNitish Kumar

My Trip to Vaishno Devi (from Delhi)

As promised to myself, it was due that I have to write an article over my recent trip to Vaishno Devi like the things, I experienced, the things like Do’s n Don’ts for this particular trip and pretty many things, which might be helpful to others planning for the same later on.  

Choosing the date and booking the tickets: It always goes crucial as people say "Maa Call you herself". Even I felt so, as one of my colleagues was also on the same trip, but it went delayed in the last moment due to his father’s illness and I made it when the only stimulus for me was three days leave (14th ,15th ,16th August).  

Do you think, it was a good choice? The holidays were not only for me, but for others as well and it seems majority of people from Delhi were heading to the same destination, means no availability in trains etc. I tried in Tatkal, but let me tell you, never rely on Railways Tatkal Reservation System in crucial periods as there connectivity goes pathetic, when it comes to handle heavy traffic (although being an IT person, I know it’s reasonable). Obviously, I didn’t have the booking in train for both the sides.  

No options left and I went for booking through a travel agent. I wondered that even in the world of online bookings, Travel Agents still get some privileges due to experiences and special CRM provided to them. Although Travel Agent was not able to get tickets for train as we asked him at the last day, but he did arranged a Volvo (costing Rs. 1000/- per head from Delhi to Katra) for going and two AC2 Tier Tickets in Jammu Mail (Rs. 1150/- per head), which in turn happened to W/L1, W/L2, but even then were surprise to me as he booked by 3:30 PM, while Tatkal opens on 8AM.  

Volvo guys and Travel Agents Experience: May be, we might been a little impatient, but it was sure not a very good professional tactics shown from Volvo guys (Libra Travels), what we got to see. Time was 6:00 PM and we reached Ram Krishna Ashram Metro Gate. Got the Volvo (Number ending with 5307) by 10 mins late and then the mess. The same seat number was allotted to many. As much I grasped the matter, it was like that Volvo people make it in unmanaged way, means tracking the count of people for one Volvo, not exact seat numbers, they will give Travel Agents any seat number and Travel Agent will give the same to customer, but actual seat numbers will be arranged in last moment. Although it didn’t went creepy, but was a pain in otherwise pleasant journey with Volvo.  

Security Checking’s and Only Stop for dinner in the way: Although the Volvo was stopped for Ticket Checking’s three times, if I remember right, but for the dinner it stopped at Karnal, Punjab for a generous time slot of around one hour or little more. It was 2* motel (Restaurant cum Bar) named Eagle. Taken French Fries and Shahi Paneer+Butter Non over it. Not perfect enough, but it was very good in comparison to pathetic Dhaba’s, most of the times, you might encounter with.  

 

Katra, Jammu and views from the window: I guess, we reached there by early morning 5-6 AM. Don’t know, how much sleep we might have taken, but it was enough to keep us in good spirit. Seats were comfortable and although we were needed sheets to counter the cold due to AC, but it was comfortable journey.  

 

 There were lots of snaps, but putting only a few here.

 Cell Phone Network Reception: You will be very very disappointed on getting the reception since you enter in Jammu as far as Cell Phone Network is concerned. You are dead about communications as no network operator seems to be caring about his prepaid customers in roaming. Only Networks available are Airtel, Aircel, Reliance, BSNL. Vodafone, Tata Indicom, Idea not working even by chance except in case, you have a postpaid (I got Tata Postpaid working). I was unlucky as even on having Aircel SIM, I left the same at home as thought it as a burden to keep with me, while Vodafone, Tata and Idea were already with me. I was also made to seriously think that I should go back to postpaid. Although I seen ads of Yatri SIM from Airtel, but can’t say more as I didn’t tried to know and haven’t checked the same on their site yet.

Resting first and choosing a hotel: After the Volvo drops you in Katra, first job is to find a hotel. I was visiting the place after two decades as I visited once when I was child even though as much I remember of that time, it was never like the place its now. Every second building is a hotel and every third one is Travel Agent’s one. Finding a hotel was not hard, but finding an empty and affordable one in our dates was. Don’t know we got a good deal, but it was Rs. 1000/- per day taxes inclusive for a Non AC single room in Raj Palace.

 

Yatri Ticket for the Darshan: Yes! Another queue. You need to get a Yatri Ticket first to start the climbing and it will be needed to show up at places. Although it didn’t went like that in such a rush, where 3.5 lacs people were visiting in a day and more than 10 lacs in the month itself (highest of the year) even more than Navratris. Be it Man’s queue or Ladies’ one there was no relief. First it was much long to reach the building from queue and if somehow you break the laws (as many were doing), even then it was taking a complete three four hours literally inside. Anyway, we ended with W/L Group B tickets. Although later I got to know that this was in vein as the ticket was of no means for that day at least.

Although while writing this article, I did some exercise myself to know that what the alternates are and got to know that through their official website.

You may get the ticket online as well. Moreover, if you are coming by plane, then at airport, you may get priority pass as well. I also got to know that why this Yatra Parchi is important. It includes a 1 Lac INR insurance cover in case of majors and 25k in case of minors. Moreover, the obvious aim is to keep the crowd controlled coz it’s a limited mountain resource, which can’t hold things beyond certain natural limits. If want to know additional details about this purchi, then check this article.

Starting from BarhGanga: I am writing this article for the people, who might be little aware of the place and trip that’s why not mentioning the history and meanings behind the names as its easy and more reliable to Google them up. As I knew that my train is a bit early means by 4PM on the day next, so I knew that I have not much time. Taken meal and then rest for a couple of hours, did shopping for Prasad and then started by 6PM.

It was raining, which continued till we returned back by day next. That made it tougher. Bought Barsatis to counter the same as everyone was doing and many people were selling the same in Rs. 10-15/-. With a little rest in between, enough washrooms and tea-coffee stalls and shades in way, it was sure not without arrangement trip from Government side. Only irritating thing was Pithus. They seems to have no control over them and we were only to tolerate them since the start. Too many of them shitting all over and rain making it worse. They were crossing you from behind any time, no matter how narrow place it might been or how tired you might be, but you were asked to run as Pithus can’t make it slowly or managed.

I felt really irritated over people, who ask for Pithus just for sake of convenience. It was for people, who can’t make it due to their illness or age or anything else. But not for everyone, who could afford. If you want to go in this way, then better to buy CDs and watch all the things from home.

I was not able to snap many pics due to continuous heavy raining. After half the way, you reach a stage, where there are two ways, one to right and one to left. Left one bypasses visit to ArdhKunwari and it was only choice left to us as there was construction going on that site and actual one was not open.

 Bhawan: the Destination: We reached by 11:45 PM, I guess, that too because we were desperate for not resting much due to our tight schedule, still we got a literal six hour long queue, which at times seems to be not moving due to irritating crowd, which constantly trying to sneak into the queue and then the Pithu’s. For God sake, can’t the official stop Pithu’s from some distance before the Bhawan, before the queue?

The six hour long queue almost broke all the bones after such a tough walk since Katra. The major hurdle was, you were not allowed to carry anything including cell phones and purse. I could understand the need, but it could have been intimated in Katra by means of poster etc or enough locker room facility could have been provided. Can you imagine, the individual offering to care your luggage in this emergency for an hour were costing how much? Rs. 300/- for a bag and two pair of floaters. Pathetic! And sometimes fatal if someone novice came up till here without knowledge of these things.

Anyway, Darshan from inside was pretty fast as it was in form of continuous moving queue. Took only 25 mins inside the Bhawan.

Coming back: Without a single minute rest. We started walking down and it was a real brave attempt as our legs and body told us later on. We kept on walking without taking rest through steps preferably and reached down by 10:45 AM and it was sure seemed much longer than it seemed while climbing for obvious reasons. We were dead tired. 😦

Here was another catch. Check out time for each hotel was 12PM, means not much time to rest. Neither we were going to as timings of train were 4:15PM and Jammu Railway Station was 2 Hours away from the Katra.

Anyway, we taken rest, check out from hotel, taken lunch, bought Prasad in bulk and got a bus to Jammu Railway Station.

There was minor trouble in midway, which delayed the journey for half an hour more. A Traffic Jam due to two troubled Trucks in mid of the way and you know you can’t do much in such a case, when this is a hilly road. So, lesion is that "Never rely on schedule". Anyway, we managed as we kept a generous time slot left for us and in the mid way got the good news as well that the last ticket, which was pending in W/L got confirmed as Chart got prepared by 3PM (In place of 12PM schedule).

Reached station and got the train in 15 mins. Also got switched the births by a guy, who got a birth in AC2 Tier due to auto up-grade scheme and finally the seats were together.

Have to comment on Railway policy here. I got ticket confirmed at some birth numbers, although PNR No. was accounting for one more remaining. Logic says that if any place is free in consecutive birth numbers, then it should have been allotted to us, but funny is, that birth could be given to Auto-upgrade scheme, but our rest birth will be provided in next coach. Great na!

Anyway, rest of the journey was pleasant enough and I was back in Delhi by 5:25 AM. Perfect on time. Although the whole body was aching like anything, but there was a pleasure in mind, we are done with

A Great Trip to Vaishno Devi.

Summery:

  1. For sure, get all tickets booked and specially Yatra Parchi and if possible then even the hotel in advance through online booking.

  2. You could rely on Travel Agents sometimes in emergency, if no options left. In my case, Agent was much helpful.  

  3. Remember most importantly, currently only Airtel, Aircel, BSNL, Reliance working there in Jammu, except Postpaid ones, no other network by any chance. 

  4. Don’t take anything while walking up to the Bhawan, not a single baggage. Just Prasad and Cash without Purse or cell phones.  

  5. Avoid the journey in peak days, otherwise, your will has to be tested. 

    *Updated to add summery on night of 18th August 2009.
    *Updated to add info about Cell Phone Network on 19th August 2009 eve.

One more good source of info with details could be found here

How to: (Linux router utilizing multiple uplink providers)

Utilizing Multiple DSL Gateways to get combined into Single Gateway

Multiple DSL connection often exist in corporate scenario due to higher gap in prices between DSL plan and Leased Line plans and we also find people struggling with connectivity issues due to downlink with any of the DSL connection, while other connections of them might be working due to failover shifting etc. After struggling with the same issue for a while, few internet resources helped us to devise a solution for the same. A Linux based Software router utilizing all the connections at the same time. Before the implementation details, let’s put a FAQ over here.

Que: Why we need a Linux based router, when already our DSLs are acting as hardware based router from our service provider?

Answer: There are multiple reasons for the same:

  1. Connection Reliability & Failover handling: You might be having multiple connections to internet, but still might be struggling due to downlink with any of the uplink as switching mechanism from one uplink is sure going to cumbersome in any environment. Automatic failover handling makes it extremely attractive solution for any demanding environment. Somewhere it scores higher over a dedicated leased due to its failover handling.
  2. Firewall/ Proxy: The same solution could provide us a mechanism to utilize our uplink connection as no more transparent to our inner network (as each request with pass through Linux router) henceforth could control the way traffic get utilized. It would be a central gateway for outgoing request.
  3. Better throughput & Load balancing: Theoretically and practically, if one has say three modems of strength 512 Kbps each, then this solution doesn’t provide the combined strength of 1.5 Mbps, but one could attain a better throughput for multiple connections like torrents and multiple applications utilizing and enjoy connections through each of the DSL at the same time.

Hardware/ Software requirements:

Minimum requirements might vary, but here I am providing the requirements, which I felt as somewhat standard.

  • Processor: P4 2.4 GHz or more.
  • RAM:
    512 MB or more.

There are additional benefit of engaging two or more Ethernet card over the same machine, say two; one handling the requests and the other one communicating with DSLs.

For security reasons, one may wish to isolate the DSLs from the inner network and in that case, you will need a separate Switch having only DSLs and this router connected to the same and no more connection to rest of the network. Rest of the network will be connected to other Ethernet card configured in preferably different subnet.

Step-By-Step Procedure :-

Here I am presenting the way, we did the things in most simplest and layman way, without going into far technical details. Sure there might be better or alternate or customized ways suiting your own environment. One may always tweak over any solution.

Here are the steps:

  1. Machine: Get a machine ready with Either of Latest Fedora, RHEL or latest of CentOS with standard installation covering all the important packages.
  2. IP Forwarding: The OS need to has IP forwarding enabled. Its disabled by default. For checking the same, you may type the following:

    cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward

    If output is 1, then nothing to do and if output is 0, then it needs to be ON.

    For permanently putting IP Forwarding as ON, you need to change the value of net.ipv4.ip_forward to 1 from 0 in the file

    /etc/sysctl.conf. The changes could take affect by either a reboot or by the command

    sysctl –p /etc/sysctl.conf

  3. Configure IPs for both the Ethernet cards. I am keeping mine in the same subnet. Keeping all the IPs in same subnet.

    Say my DSL IPs are [MY_DSL1_IP], [MY_DSL2_IP], [MY_DSL3_IP] and two IPs of this router are [Ethernet1_IP] and [Ethernet2_IP]. I am keeping my subnet as 172.16.x.x/16

  4. In next, you need to create multiple profiles of one Ethernet card (take eth1) to communicate with each of DSL (in our case three different profiles with three different IPs).

    Make copies of file ifcfg-eth1 as ifcfg-eth1:0, ifcfg-eth1:1 and ifcfg-eth1:2. [Location /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts]

    cp ifcfg-eth1 ifcfg-eth1:0
    cp ifcfg-eth1 ifcfg-eth1:1
    cp ifcfg-eth1 ifcfg-eth1:2

    Make changes in files as given below:

    Content of ifcfg-eth1

    # Accton Technology Corporation SMC2-1211TX

    DEVICE=eth1
    ONBOOT=yes
    BOOTPROTO=none
    HWADDR=00:10:b5:fd:7f:e7
    NETMASK=255.255.0.0
    IPADDR=[Ethernet2_IP]

    TYPE=Ethernet
    USERCTL=no
    IPV6INIT=no
    PEERDNS=yes

    Content of ifcfg-eth1:0

    # Accton Technology Corporation SMC2-1211TX

    DEVICE=eth1:0
    ONBOOT=yes
    BOOTPROTO=none
    HWADDR=00:10:b5:fd:7f:e7
    NETMASK=255.255.0.0
    IPADDR=[Profile0_IP]

    TYPE=Ethernet
    USERCTL=no
    IPV6INIT=no
    PEERDNS=yes

    Content of ifcfg-eth1:1

    # Accton Technology Corporation SMC2-1211TX

    DEVICE=eth1:1
    ONBOOT=yes
    BOOTPROTO=none
    HWADDR=00:10:b5:fd:7f:e7
    NETMASK=255.255.0.0
    IPADDR=[Profile1_IP]
    TYPE=Ethernet
    USERCTL=no
    IPV6INIT=no
    PEERDNS=yes

    Content of ifcfg-eth1:2

    # Accton Technology Corporation SMC2-1211TX

    DEVICE=eth1:2
    ONBOOT=yes
    BOOTPROTO=none
    HWADDR=00:10:b5:fd:7f:e7
    NETMASK=255.255.0.0
    IPADDR=[Profile2_IP]

    TYPE=Ethernet
    USERCTL=no
    IPV6INIT=no
    PEERDNS=yes

  5. Add the entries in your rt_tables file for your DSLs

    Just do vi /etc/iproute2/rt_tables and put enties, so that the file contents will look like something as given below:

1 dsl1
2 dsl2
3 dsl3

#
# reserved values
#
255    local
254    main
253    default
0    unspec
#
# local
#
#1    inr.ruhep

Now most important step, place the routes in the rc.local file. Just do vi /etc/rc.d/rc.local and put enties, so that the file contents will look like something as given below:

#!/bin/sh

#

# This script will be executed *after* all the other init scripts.
# You can put your own initialization stuff in here if you don’t
# want to do the full Sys V style init stuff.
touch /var/lock/subsys/local
/sbin/ip route add 172.16.0.0/16 dev eth1:0 src [Profile0_IP] table dsl1
/sbin/ip route add 172.16.0.0/16 dev eth1:1 src [Profile1_IP] table dsl2
/sbin/ip route add 172.16.0.0/16 dev eth1:2 src [Profile2_IP] table dsl3
/sbin/ip route add default via [MY_DSL1_IP] table dsl1
/sbin/ip route add default via [MY_DSL2_IP] table dsl2
/sbin/ip route add default via [MY_DSL3_IP] table dsl3
/sbin/ip rule add from [MY_DSL1_IP] table dsl1
/sbin/ip rule add from [MY_DSL2_IP] table dsl2
/sbin/ip rule add from [MY_DSL3_IP] table dsl3
/sbin/ip route add default scope global nexthop via [MY_DSL1_IP] dev eth1:0 weight 1 nexthop via [MY_DSL2_IP] dev eth1:1 weight 1 nexthop via [MY_DSL3_IP] dev eth1:2 weight 1
/usr/bin/nohup usr/local/bin/gwping >>/var/log/gwping.log 2>&1

As about the last line and gwping, then it will come in later step.

  1. The next part is to place a script, which will take care of failover shifting and logging. What it basically do is to ping some public website through each of DSL, determining that when any of DSL went down and switching routing rules accordingly.

    Here is our customized script saved as /usr/local/bin/gwping:

    GWCMD="/sbin/ip route replace default scope global"

    # Conventionally 0 indicates success in this script.

    # Time between checks in seconds

    SLEEPTIME=10

    #IP Address or domain name to ping. The script relies on the domain being

    #pingable and always available

    TESTIP=http://www.yahoo.com

    #Ping timeout in seconds

    TIMEOUT=2

    # External interfaces

    EXTIF1=eth1:0

    EXTIF2=eth1:1

    EXTIF3=eth1:2

    #IP address of external interfaces. This is not the gateway address.

    IP1=[Profile0_IP]

    IP2=[Profile1_IP]

    IP3=[Profile2_IP]

    #Gateway IP addresses. This is the first (hop) gateway, could be your router IP

    #address if it has been configured as the gateway

    GW1=[MY_DSL1_IP]

    GW2=[MY_DSL2_IP]

    GW3=[MY_DSL3_IP]

    # Relative weights of routes. Keep this to a low integer value.

    W1=1

    W2=1    

    W3=1

    # Broadband providers name; use your own names here.

    NAME1=dsl1

    NAME2=ds12

    NAME3=dsl3

    #No of repeats of success or failure before changing status of connection

    SUCCESSREPEATCOUNT=4

    FAILUREREPEATCOUNT=1

    # Do not change anything below this line

    # Last link status indicates the macro status of the link we determined. This is down initially to force routing change upfront. Don’t change these values.

    LLS1=1

    LLS2=1

    LLS3=1

    # Last ping status. Don’t change these values.

    LPS1=1

    LPS2=1

    LPS3=1

    # Current ping status. Don’t change these values.

    CPS1=1

    CPS2=1

    CPS3=1

    # Change link status indicates that the link needs to be changed. Don’t change these values.

    CLS1=1

    CLS2=1

    CLS3=1

    # Count of repeated up status or down status. Don’t change these values.

    COUNT1=0

    COUNT2=0

    COUNT3=0

    while : ; do

    /bin/ping -W $TIMEOUT -I $IP1 -c 1 $TESTIP > /dev/null 2>&1

    RETVAL=$?

    if [ $RETVAL -ne 0 ]; then

    echo $NAME1 Down

    CPS1=1

    else

    CPS1=0

    fi

    if [ $LPS1 -ne $CPS1 ]; then

    echo Ping status changed for $NAME1 from $LPS1 to $CPS1

    COUNT1=1

    else

    if [ $LPS1 -ne $LLS1 ]; then

    COUNT1=`expr $COUNT1 + 1`

    fi

    fi

    if [[ $COUNT1 -ge $SUCCESSREPEATCOUNT || ($LLS1 -eq 0 && $COUNT1 -ge $FAILUREREPEATCOUNT) ]]; then

    echo Uptime status will be changed for $NAME1 from $LLS1

    CLS1=0

    COUNT1=0

    if [ $LLS1 -eq 1 ]; then

    LLS1=0

    else

    LLS1=1

    fi

    else

    CLS1=1

    fi

    LPS1=$CPS1

    /bin/ping -W $TIMEOUT -I $IP2 -c 1 $TESTIP > /dev/null 2>&1

    RETVAL=$?

    if [ $RETVAL -ne 0 ]; then

    echo $NAME2 Down

    CPS2=1

    else

    CPS2=0

    fi

    if [ $LPS2 -ne $CPS2 ]; then

    echo Ping status changed for $NAME2 from $LPS2 to $CPS2

    COUNT2=1

    else

    if [ $LPS2 -ne $LLS2 ]; then

    COUNT2=`expr $COUNT2 + 1`

    fi

    fi

    if [[ $COUNT2 -ge $SUCCESSREPEATCOUNT || ($LLS2 -eq 0 && $COUNT2 -ge $FAILUREREPEATCOUNT) ]]; then

    echo Uptime status will be changed for $NAME2 from $LLS2

    CLS2=0

    COUNT2=0

    if [ $LLS2 -eq 1 ]; then

    LLS2=0

    else

    LLS2=1

    fi    

    else

    CLS2=1

    fi

    LPS2=$CPS2

    /bin/ping -W $TIMEOUT -I $IP3 -c 1 $TESTIP > /dev/null 2>&1

    RETVAL=$?

    if [ $RETVAL -ne 0 ]; then

    echo $NAME3 Down

    CPS3=1

    else

    CPS3=0

    fi

    if [ $LPS3 -ne $CPS3 ]; then

    echo Ping status changed for $NAME3 from $LPS3 to $CPS3

    COUNT3=1

    else

    if [ $LPS3 -ne $LLS3 ]; then

    COUNT3=`expr $COUNT3 + 1`

    fi

    fi

    if [[ $COUNT3 -ge $SUCCESSREPEATCOUNT || ($LLS3 -eq 0 && $COUNT3 -ge $FAILUREREPEATCOUNT) ]]; then

    echo Uptime status will be changed for $NAME3 from $LLS3

    CLS3=0

    COUNT3=0

    if [ $LLS3 -eq 1 ]; then

    LLS3=0

    else

    LLS3=1

    fi

    else

    CLS3=1

    fi

    LPS3=$CPS3

    # Changeover Logic here

    if [[ $CLS1 -eq 0 || $CLS2 -eq 0 || $CLS3 -eq 0 ]]; then

    if [ $LLS1 -eq 0 ]; then

    echo Adding $NAME1

    GWCMD="$GWCMD nexthop via $GW1 dev $EXTIF1 weight 1"

    fi

    if [ $LLS2 -eq 0 ]; then

    echo Adding $NAME2

    GWCMD="$GWCMD nexthop via $GW2 dev $EXTIF2 weight 1"

    fi

    if [ $LLS3 -eq 0 ]; then

    echo Adding $NAME3

    GWCMD="$GWCMD nexthop via $GW3 dev $EXTIF3 weight 1"

    fi

    echo "Change execute now \n $GWCMD"

    $GWCMD

    GWCMD="/sbin/ip route replace default scope global"

    fi

    sleep $SLEEPTIME

    done

  2. The last place is to make DNS entries. Just do a vi /etc/resolv.conf and type the following:

    nameserver 208.67.222.222

    I am using OpenDNS IP as DNS here. One may wish to have any other reliable one.

  3. Oops!! forgot one more thing, do a chmod 777 /var/log/gwping.log

    Now, you just need to reboot the same machine and then use [Ethernet1_IP] as Gateway in your production machines/ Proxy/ Firewall and here you go.

Waiting for your comments. Soon will post the HowTo, if one wishes to get the same thing done without putting one additional ethernet card in action means with one card only.

PDF Version