Dual-homed or dual-homing can refer to either an
Ethernet
Ethernet ( ) is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 198 ...
device that has more than one network interface, for redundancy purposes, or in
firewall technology, one of the firewall architectures for implementing preventive security.
An example of dual-homed devices are
enthusiast computing motherboard
A motherboard, also called a mainboard, a system board, a logic board, and informally a mobo (see #Nomenclature, "Nomenclature" section), is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in general-purpose computers and other expandable systems. It ho ...
s that incorporate dual Ethernet
network interface card
A network interface controller (NIC, also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter and physical network interface) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.
Early network interface ...
s.
Usage
In Ethernet LANs, dual-homing is a network topology whereby a networked device is built with more than one network interface. Each interface or port is connected to the network, but only one connection is active at a time. The other connection is activated only if the primary connection fails. Traffic is quickly rerouted to the backup connection in the event of link failure. This feature was designed to provide telecommunications-grade reliability and redundancy to Ethernet networks.
Multihoming
Multihoming is the practice of connecting a Host (network), host or a computer network to more than one network. This can be done in order to increase reliability or performance.
A typical host or end-user network is connected to just one networ ...
is a more general category, referring to a device having more than one network connection.
In firewalls
Firewall dual-homing provides the first-line defense and protection technology for keeping untrusted bodies from compromising information security by violating trusted network space.
A dual-homed host (or dual-homed gateway) is a system fitted with two
network interface controller
A network interface controller (NIC, also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter and physical network interface) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.
Early network interface ...
s (NICs) that sits between an untrusted network (like the
Internet
The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...
) and trusted network (such as a corporate network) to provide secure access. Dual-homed is a general term for
proxies,
gateways, firewalls, or any server that provides secured applications or services directly to an untrusted network.
Dual-homed hosts can be seen as a special case of
bastion hosts and
multi-homed hosts. They fall into the category of ''application-based firewalls''.
Dual-homed hosts can act as firewalls provided that they do not forward IP datagrams unconditionally.
Other firewall architectures include the ''network-layer firewall'' types
screening router,
screened-host,
and
screened subnet.
See also
*
Multihoming
Multihoming is the practice of connecting a Host (network), host or a computer network to more than one network. This can be done in order to increase reliability or performance.
A typical host or end-user network is connected to just one networ ...
*
Firewall (computing)
In computing, a firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on configurable security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted n ...
*
Router (computing)
A router is a computer and networking device that Packet forwarding, forwards data packets between computer networks, including internetworks such as the global Internet.
Routers perform the "traffic directing" functions on the Internet. A ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dual-Homed
Computer network security