Edge-Core Direk Tronik 24/48-Port, Management Manual

Page: 267 / 588

30-1
Chapter 30: Switch Clustering
Switch Clustering is a method of grouping switches together to enable centralized
management through a single unit. Switches that support clustering can be grouped
together regardless of physical location or switch type, as long as they are
connected to the same local network.
A switch cluster has a “Commander” unit that is used to manage all other “Member”
switches in the cluster. The management station uses Telnet to communicate
directly with the Commander throught its IP address, and the Commander manages
Member switches using cluster “internal” IP addresses. There can be up to 36
Member switches in one cluster. Cluster switches are limited to within a single IP
subnet.
Once a switch has been configured to be a cluster Commander, it automatically
discovers other cluster-enabled switches in the network. These “Candidate”
switches only become cluster Members when manually selected by the
administrator through the management station.
Note:
Cluster Member switches can be managed through only using a Telnet connection
to the Commander. From the Commander CLI prompt, use the “rcommand”
command (see page 61-4) to connect to the Member switch.
Cluster Configuration
To create a switch cluster, first be sure that clustering is enabled on the switch (the
default is enabled), then set the switch as a Cluster Commander. Set a Cluster IP
Pool that does not conflict with the network IP subnet. Cluster IP addresses are
assigned to switches when they become Members and are used for communication
between Member switches and the Commander.
Command Attributes
• Cluster Status – Enables or disables clustering on the switch. (Default: Enabled)
• Cluster Commander – Enables or disables the switch as a cluster Commander.
(Default: Disabled)
• Role – Indicates the current role of the switch in the cluster; either Commander,
Member, or Candidate.
• Cluster IP Pool – An “internal” IP address pool that is used to assign IP addresses
to Member switches in the cluster. Internal cluster IP addresses are in the form
10.
x.x.member-ID . Only the base IP address of the pool needs to be set since
Member IDs can only be between 1 and 36. Note that y
ou cannot change the cluster
IP pool when the switch is currently in Commander mode. Commander mode must first
be disabled. (Default:
10.254.254.1)
• Number of Members – The current number of Member switches in the cluster.
• Number of Candidates – The current number of Candidate switches discovered
in the network that are available to become Members.