Specifications
Chapter 5: Configuring Equalizer Operation
48 Equalizer Installation and Administration Guide
that the system that is configured as the default backup will reboot; upon coming back up, it will
enter backup mode.
Since different Equalizer models and software revisions have varying configuration parameters, it is
recommended that both of the failover peers are the same model Equalizer running the same
software version. See the section “Using Failover with Different Equalizer Models or Versions” on
page 51 for more information on setting up a failover pair with two different Equalizer models.
You’ll need to create the two failover peer definitions, set failover timing parameters, and define the
failover aliases on both systems. The following procedure leads you through the failover setup
process on both Equalizers in the failover pair.
1. Log into the Equalizer Administration Interface in Edit mode on the failover peer that will
assume the preferred primary role. (Configuring and rebooting the preferred primary Equalizer
first ensures that it assumes the primary role.)
2. Select Equalizer > Global Configuration from the main menu bar; then select menu >
Failover from the modify system parameters screen. The failover configuration screen
appears in the right frame.
3. In the failover peers section (see Figure 25 on page 48), make sure that create new is selected
in the peer drop-down.
Figure25 Failoverpeerssectionofthefailoverconfigurationscreenforadualnetworkconfiguration
Note – Any switch, such as one from Cisco or Dell, that comes with Spanning Tree enabled by
default can cause a communication problem in a failover configuration when one or both of the
Equalizers are dual-port models. This problem occurs at bootup because the switch disables its
ports for roughly 30 seconds to listen to BPDU (bridge protocol data unit) traffic. The 30-second
pause causes both Equalizers to attempt to become the primary unit; the default backup
continually reboots.
To repair this condition, either disable Spanning Tree or enable PortFast for the ports connected
to the Equalizers. This enables the ports to act as normal hubs and accept all traffic immediately.