User's Manual

6-1
Chapter 6 Cluster Configuration
6.1 Introduction to cluster network management
Cluster network management is an in-band configuration management. Unlike CLI, SNMP and Web Config
which implement a direct management of the target switches through a management workstation, cluster
network management implements a direct management of the target switches (member switches/Master)
through an intermediate switch (commander switch/Slave).
A commander switch(Master) can manage multiple member switches(Slave). As soon as a Public IP
address is configured in the commander switch, all the member switches which are configured with private IP
addresses can be managed remotely. This feature economizes public IP addresses which are short of supply.
Cluster network management can dynamically discover cluster feature enabled switches (candidate
switches).
Network administrators can statically or dynamically add the candidate switches to the cluster which is
already established. Accordingly, they can configure and manage the member switches through the
commander switch. When the member switches are distributed in various physical locations (such as on the
different floors of the same building), cluster network management has obvious advantages. Moreover,
cluster network management is an in-band management. The commander switch can communicate with
member switches in existing network. There is no need to build a specific network for network management.
Cluster network management has the following features:
 Save IP addresses
 Simplify configuration tasks
 Indifference to network topology and distance limitation
 Auto detecting and auto establishing