User guide

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:
• Hardware Redundancy
• Smart Continuous Switching
• Software Rollback
• Hot Swapping
• Hardware Monitoring
• Power Checking Sequence
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
(CMM).” For information on power supply and fan redundancy, refer to Chapter 2, “Chassis and Power
Supplies.”