Edge-Core ES4524M-PoE, Management Manual, Page: 263 / 560

Switch Clustering
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Switch Clustering
Switch Clustering is a method of grouping switches together for 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.
Command Usage
• A switch cluster has a “Commander” unit that is used to manage all other “Member”
switches in the cluster. The management station uses both Telnet and the web
interface to communicate directly with the Commander through its IP address,
while the Commander manages Member switches using the cluster’s “internal” IP
addresses.
• 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.
• There can be up to 36 Member switches in one cluster.
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 4-56) 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 clustering on the switch. (Default: Enabled)
• Cluster Commander – Enables the switch as a cluster Commander.
(Default: Disabled)
• Role – Indicates the current role of the switch in the cluster; either Commander,
Member, or Candidate. (Default: 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 you 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.