Using switches with Bigleaf routers

As of January 2023, Bigleaf stopped providing Cisco switches for use in High Availability (HA) environments. We improved our architecture to no longer require Bigleaf-provided switches in our HA deployments and introduced the Premier plan. If you are still using a Bigleaf-supplied Cisco switch in your HA environment, we encourage you to remove it before October 2026.

Cisco is ending maintenance on Bigleaf-supplied switches

Cisco is in the process of no longer providing software maintenance releases or bug fixes to the following Bigleaf-supplied switch models, ending hardware support in 2027:

Cisco 2960X
Cisco SX550X

As part of Cisco’s end of support plans, Bigleaf will end our ongoing management and support for these switches in October 2026, including hardware replacements. Make a plan before this date to move away from Bigleaf-supplied switches. 

Existing HA Configuration using Cisco switches

When using Bigleaf-provided Cisco switches in an HA environment, the switches are located between the Bigleaf routers, as shown in the diagram below. When removing the Cisco switches from your Bigleaf HA environment, you will have three potential configuration options, depending on your needs.  

New configuration options for Bigleaf HA

There are three HA configuration options in the Premier plan, depending on your environment:

• No switches – your ISPs support dual handoffs
• Unmanaged switches – one or more of your ISPs do not support dual handoffs
• Using a switch to provide additional LAN or LAG handoffs

Examples of these configuration options are shown below.

For details about moving to the Premier plan, see this Help Center article.

Your ISPs support dual handoffs (no switches required)

If your ISPs support dual handoffs, you don’t need a switch, as shown in the diagram below.

Your ISPs don’t support dual handoffs (unmanaged switch required)

If one of your ISPs does not support dual handoffs, you can place an unmanaged switch between your ISP handoff and the Bigleaf router to provide the multiple WAN connections.

Additional LAN handoffs or LAG handoffs to firewalls

This configuration incorporates LAN switches to allow for:

• Port density for LAN-side devices
• LAG connections for LAN-side devices

Need Help?

If you have questions or need additional help with using Bigleaf in a High Availability environment, visit our Help Center.