H3C Technologies H3C S5120 Series Switches - Manual (Page 673)

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Cluster Management Configuration
When configuring cluster management, go to these sections for information you are interested in:
z Cluster Management Overview
z Cluster Configuration Task List
z Configuring the Management Device
z Configuring the Member Devices
z Configuring Access Between the Management Device and Its Member Devices
z Adding a Candidate Device to a Cluster
z Configuring Advanced Cluster Functions
z Displaying and Maintaining Cluster Management
z Cluster Management Configuration Example
Cluster Management Overview
Cluster Management Definition
Along with the growth of networks, a great number of access devices are needed at network borders.
Management for these devices is very complicated; moreover, each device needs an IP address and
thus wastes IP address resources. Problems can be solved by cluster, which is a group of network
devices. Cluster management is to implement management of large numbers of distributed network
devices. Cluster management offers the following advantages:
z Saving public IP address resource
z Simplifying configuration and management tasks. By configuring a public IP address on one device,
you can configure and manage a group of devices without the trouble of logging in to each device
separately.
z Providing topology discovery and display function, which is useful for network monitoring and
debugging
z Allowing simultaneous software upgrading and parameter configuration on multiple devices, free of
topology and distance limitations
Roles in a Cluster
The devices in a cluster play different roles according to their different functions and status. You can
specify the following three roles for the devices:
z Management device (Administrator): The device providing management interfaces for all devices
in a cluster and the only device configured with a public IP address. You can specify one and only
one management device for a cluster. Any configuration, management, and monitoring of the other
devices in a cluster can only be implemented through the management device. When a device is
specified as the management device, it collects related information to discover and define
candidate devices.
z Member device (Member): A device managed by the management device in a cluster.
z Candidate device (Candidate): A device that does not belong to any cluster but can be added to a