LevelOne GEL-5261, User Manual

Page: 400 / 570

Chapter 13
| Basic Administration Protocols
Switch Clustering
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Figure 257: Showing Collected RMON Statistical Samples
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.
Command Usage
◆
A switch cluster has a primary unit called the “Commander” which is used to
manage all other “Member” switches in the cluster. The management station
can use either Telnet or the web interface to communicate directly with the
Commander through its IP address, and then use the Commander to manage
Member switches through the cluster’s “internal” IP addresses.
◆ Clustered switches must be in the same Ethernet broadcast domain. In other
words, clustering only functions for switches which can pass information
between the Commander and potential Candidates or active Members
through VLAN 4093.
◆
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 100 candidates and 36 member switches in one cluster.
◆ A switch can only be a member of one cluster.