LevelOne FGL-2870 - Manual (Page 359)

Switch Clustering
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Switch Clustering
IP 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 “Commander” unit that is used to manage all other “Member”
switches in the cluster. The management station can use both Telnet and the web
interface to communicate directly with the Commander through its IP address,
while the Commander manages Member switches using cluster “internal” IP
addresses.
• Clustered switches must be in the same Ethernet broadcast domain.
• 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.
• After the Commander and Members have been configured, any switch in the
cluster can be managed from the web agent by choosing the desired Member ID
from the Cluster drop down menu. To connect to the Member switch from the
Commander CLI prompt, use the rcommand (see page 4-83) .
Figure 3-177 Cluster Member Choice
Configuring General Settings for Clusters
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 or disables clustering on the switch. (Default: Enabled)
• Cluster Commander – Enables or disables the switch as a cluster Commander.
(Default: Disabled)