Specifications

Chapter 5. IBM System Networking

RackSwitch implementation

This chapter provides information and instructions for implementing the IBM System

Networking 10Gb Top-of-Rack family switches, RackSwitch G8264R/F and RackSwitch

G8124. Using the reference architecture described in Chapter 3, “Reference architectures” on

page 107, this chapter presents a step by step guide for implementing and configuring the

most important functions implemented in IBM Networking OS. It is not meant to cover all the

available features in the operating system. Instead, it is strictly for to the proposed

test architecture.

The goal of this chapter is that the final result is a fully functional network, able to prove the

operation of the implemented features.

A reader with the same (or equivalent) equipment used in the reference architecture at his

disposal should be able to replicate the described configuration by following the steps

presented in this chapter, and arrive at the same result.

This chapter cover implementation aspects that pertain to OSI Layers 1 - 3, as follows:

򐂰 Layer 1: Configuration, information, and statistics commands related to Layer 1 operation.

Port configuration in terms of speed and duplex, link status, errors, and so on.

򐂰 Layer 2: Configuration, information, and statistics commands related to Layer 2 operation.

VLANs, ports and trunking, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Quality of Service (QoS), and

high availability mechanisms.

򐂰 Layer 3: Configuration, information, and statistics commands related to Layer 3 operation.

Basic IP routing, dynamic routing protocols, high availability mechanisms (Virtual Router

Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)), IPv6, and so on.