Installation manual

3-268
SIGNAMAX LLC • www.signamax.eu
Switch Clustering
Switch Clustering is a method of grouping switches together to enable centralized
management through a single unit. Switches that support clustering can be grouped
together regardless of physical location or switch type, as long as they are connected to
the same local network.
Command Usage
• A switch cluster has a “Commander” unit that is used to manage all other “Member”
switches in the cluster. The management station can use both Telnet and the web
interface to communicate directly with the Commander through its IP address, while the
Commander manages Member switches using cluster “internal” IP addresses.
• Clustered switches must be in the same Ethernet broadcast domain.
• Once a switch has been configured to be a cluster Commander, it automatically
discovers other cluster-enabled switches in the network. These “Candidate” switches
only become cluster Members when manually selected by the administrator through the
management station.
• There can be up to 100 candidates and 36 member switches in one cluster.
• A switch can only be a member of one cluster.
• After the Commander and Members have been configured, any switch in the cluster can
be managed from the web agent by choosing the desired Member ID from the Cluster
drop down menu. To connect to the Member switch from the Commander CLI prompt,
use the rcommand (see page 4-79) .
Figure 3-153 Cluster Member Choice
Configuring General Settings for Clusters
To create a switch cluster, first be sure that clustering is enabled on the switch (the default
is enabled), then set the switch as a Cluster Commander. Set a Cluster IP Pool that does
not conflict with the network IP subnet. Cluster IP addresses are assigned to switches
when they become Members and are used for communication between Member switches
and the Commander.
Command Attributes
• Cluster Status – Enables or disables clustering on the switch. (Default: Enabled)
• Cluster Commander – Enables or disables the switch as a cluster Commander.
(Default: Disabled)
• Role – Indicates the current role of the switch in the cluster; either Commander,
Member, or Candidate. (Default: Candidate)