H3C Technologies H3C S7500E Series Switches - Manual (Page 53)

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1. Use H3C S7500E Switch Series IRF Configuration Guide as a reference to identify the number of
member switches that your system software version supports for an S7500E IRF fabric.
2. Choose S7500E switch models for your network.
IRF-capable S7500E switches include the S7503E, S7506E, S7510E, and S7506E-V.
The member switches in an S7500E IRF fabric must be the same model.
3. Select LPUs that can provide 10-GE/40-GE optical ports.
The S7500E switch series requires 10-GE/40-GE fiber ports for IRF connection. Available cards
include the LSQ1SRP2XB (LSQM1SRP2XB) SRPU, and the SC-, SD-, and EB-type LPUs. For more
information about the LPUs, see "Appendix B Pluggable module ordering guide."
4. Select XFP/SFP+/QSFP+/CFP transceiver modules and fibers for long-haul IRF connection. Select
SFP+/QSFP+/QSFP+ to SFP+ cables for short-haul IRF connection.
For more information about transceiver modules and cables, see "Appendix B Pluggable module
ordering guide."
5. Plan the installation site.
Identifying the master switch and planning IRF member IDs
Determine which switch you want to use as the master for managing all member switches in the IRF
fabric.
An IRF fabric has only one master switch. You configure and manage all member switches in the IRF
fabric at the CLI of the master. IRF member switches will automatically elect a master. You can affect the
election result by assigning a high member priority to the intended master switch. For more information
about master election, see H3C S7500E Switch Series IRF Configuration Guide.
Prepare an IRF member ID assignment scheme. An IRF fabric uses member IDs to uniquely identify and
manage its members, and you must assign each IRF member switch a unique member ID.
Planning IRF topology and connections
Connect the IRF member switches through IRF ports, the logical interfaces for the connections between
IRF member switches. Each IRF member switch has two IRF ports: IRF-port 1 and IRF-port 2. To use an IRF
port, you must bind at least one physical port to it.
When connecting two neighboring IRF member switches, you must connect the physical ports of IRF-port
1 on one switch to the physical ports of IRF-port 2 on the other switch.
A two-member IRF fabric must use the daisy chain topology.
If the system software version you are using support more than two IRF members, you can create an IRF
fabric that comprises more than two members in daisy chain topology, or more reliably, ring topology.
In ring topology, the failure of one IRF link does not cause the IRF fabric to split as in daisy chain topology.
Rather, the IRF fabric changes to a daisy chain topology without interrupting network services.
Identifying physical IRF ports on the member switches
Identify the physical IRF ports on the member switches according to your topology and connection
scheme.
On S7500E switches, only 10-GE/40-GE ports can be used for IRF connection.