Digital Equipment SmartSwitch SmartMIM-216, User Manual

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1-3
Introduction
Compatibility - DEC Hunt Groups and
GigaSwitch Router (GSR)
SmartTrunking for the MultiSwitch 700 is based on, and compatible with, DEC
Hunt Groups. Adopting the DEC Hunt Groups protocol allows the MultiSwitch
700 to be trunked together with the GigaSwitch Router (GSR) and other DEC
equipment supporting this feature. (See the Þrmware release notes for the
compatibility of the individual image selected).
SmartTrunking and Hunt Groups are comprised of two protocols:
¥ Logical Link Aging Protocol (LLAP) - Assists in learning and aging.
¥ Physical Link AfÞnity Protocol (PLAP) - Monitors and maintains the trunking
states.
Chassis with Multiple SmartTrunk Groups
A SmartTrunk ÒgroupÓ consists of two or more ports, and deÞnes a single logical
connection to a MultiSwitch 700 module. By creating identical groups on modules
in two different MultiSwitch 700 chassis, a point-to-point SmartTrunk can be
established between the switches to increase the available bandwidth and provide
link redundancy.
Figure 1-1 depicts a single example of a network with several MultiSwitch 700
chassis using SmartTrunking. In this example, a module in one MultiSwitch 700
(chassis #1) supports two different SmartTrunk groups to other MultiSwitch 700
chassis (#2 and #3). Group ÒAÓ forms the SmartTrunk that connects a module in
chassis #1 to a module in chassis #3. Group ÒBÓ forms a separate SmartTrunk that
connects the same module in chassis #1 to a module in chassis #2. Thus, the
module in chassis #1 is shown as having Òmultiple groupsÓ when viewed
through management screens (through a Local Management console or remote
management software).
SmartTrunk can be conÞgured in a number of different ways on MultiSwitch 700
modules. A MultiSwitch 700 module can be conÞgured to support a single
SmartTrunk groups consisting of virtually any number of ports (essentially
limited to the number of ports on the module). Or, a module can be conÞgured to
support multiple SmartTrunk groups, creating trunk connections to several other
switches (see Figure 1-1). The particular conÞguration chosen for each
MultiSwitch 700 module depends on the overall network design.