The OmniSwitch 7700 and 7800
Availability Features
OmniSwitch 7700/7800 Hardware Users Guide
April 2005
page 1-3
Availability Features
The switch provides a broad variety of
Availability
features. Availability features are hardware- and
software-based safeguards that help prevent the loss of data flow in the unlikely event of a subsystem fail-
ure. In addition, some Availability features allow you to maintain or replace hardware components with-
out powering off your switch or interrupting switch operations. Combined, these features provide added
resiliency and help ensure that your switch is consistently available for your day-to-day network opera-
tions.
Hardware-related Availability features include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Information on software-related availability is provided in the
OmniSwitch 7700/7800/8800 Switch
Management Guide
and the
OmniSwitch 7700/7800/8800
Network Configuration Guide.
Refer to the
corresponding feature chapter (e.g., VRRP).
Hardware Redundancy
Hardware redundancy refers to backup hardware components. If primary hardware components fail or go
offline for any reason, the redundant hardware automatically assumes the primary hardware functions (this
is also referred to as
failover
). The following components offer redundancy:
•
Chassis Management Modules (CMMs)
•
Power Supplies
•
Fan Units
•
MAC EEPROM
Note.
Redundancy is a key Availability feature; it is recommended that you install redundant hardware
components in your switch whenever possible.
For detailed information on CMM redundancy, refer to
Chapter 4, “Chassis Management Module
For information on power supply and fan redundancy, refer to
