Specifications

Using Failover with Different Equalizer Models or Versions
Equalizer Installation and Administration Guide 51
Using Failover with Different Equalizer Models or Versions
We recommend that you use the same model Equalizer (e.g., E350si, E450si, etc.) for both systems
in a failover pair and that both Equalizers are running the same version of the software (e.g., 7.2.4).
This is recommended because the default behavior of Equalizer is to maintain the same
configuration files on both systems in a failover pair (so that you don’t need to manually update
both Equalizers with the same configuration changes). Changes committed to one system are copied
to the configuration files on the other system.
For this reason, it is not generally recommended to deploy two different Equalizer models in a
failover pair. However, some sites prefer to upgrade failover pairs to new hardware one at a time
rather than deploying new models for both failover systems at the same time. If you are pairing an
older model with a newer model (such as a newer switch-integrated E350si or E450si system with
an older E350 or E450 non-switch system in single network mode), the differences in hardware
configuration on these models require that the systems do not share changes to their configuration
files by setting a special flag (dont transfer) on both Equalizers.
Similarly, some sites prefer to upgrade one Equalizer in a failover pair to a major new software
revision and leave the other running the previous release for a limited period of time, in case there
are any unforeseen configuration problems.
To prevent Equalizers in a failover pair from sharing changes to configuration files, perform the
following procedure on both systems:
1. Select Equalizer > Global Configuration from the main menu.
2. At the bottom of the modify system parameters screen, in the flags section, check the box
labeled dont transfer.
Figure28 Modifysystemparametersflags
3. Click the commit button to save the flag change.
Note – Whenever the dont transfer flag is enabled, you must manually perform any changes to
your Equalizer and cluster configuration (such as adding/removing clusters or servers, changing
system parameters, etc) on both Equalizers in the failover pair.