C H A P T E R
5-1
Catalyst 2928 Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-23389-01
5
Clustering Switches
This chapter provides the concepts and procedures to create and manage Catalyst 2928 switch clusters.
You can create and manage switch clusters by using the command-line interface (CLI) or SNMP. For
complete procedures, see the online help. For the CLI cluster commands, see the switch command
reference
.
This chapter focuses on Catalyst 2928 switch clusters. It also includes guidelines and limitations for
clusters mixed with other cluster-capable Catalyst switches, but it does not provide complete
descriptions of the cluster features for these other switches. For complete cluster information for a
specific Catalyst platform, refer to the software configuration guide for that switch.
•
Understanding Switch Clusters, page 5-1
•
Planning a Switch Cluster, page 5-4
•
Using the CLI to Manage Switch Clusters, page 5-13
•
Using SNMP to Manage Switch Clusters, page 5-14
Note
We do not recommend using the
ip http access-class
global configuration command to limit access to
specific hosts or networks. Access should be controlled through the cluster command switch.
Understanding Switch Clusters
A
switch cluster
is a set of up to 16 connected, cluster-capable Catalyst switches that are managed as a
single entity. The switches in the cluster use the switch clustering technology so that you can configure
and troubleshoot a group of different Catalyst desktop switch platforms through a single IP address.
In a switch cluster, 1 switch must be the
cluster command switch
and up to 15 other switches can be
cluster member switches
. The total number of switches in a cluster cannot exceed 16 switches. The
cluster command switch is the single point of access used to configure, manage, and monitor the cluster
member switches. Cluster members can belong to only one cluster at a time.
The benefits of clustering switches include:
•
Management of Catalyst switches regardless of their interconnection media and their physical
locations. The switches can be in the same location, or they can be distributed across a Layer 2 or
Layer 3 (if your cluster is using a Catalyst 3550, Catalyst 3560, or Catalyst 3750 switch as a Layer 3
router between the Layer 2 switches in the cluster) network.