H3C H3C S5600 Series Operating instructions

Brand: H3C

Model: H3C S5600 Series

Category: Network switches

Type: Operating instructions

H3C S5600 Series, a versatile and powerful networking solution, offers a plethora of benefits for businesses seeking reliable and efficient connectivity. Its intelligent resilient framework (IRF) enables the formation of fabric networks, allowing multiple switches to be interconnected and managed as a single entity. This innovative technology simplifies network management, reduces costs, and enhances reliability through N+1 redundancy, minimizing service interruptions.

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 IRF Fabric Configuration.............................................................................................1-1

1.1 Overview............................................................................................................................1-1

1.1.1 Introduction to IRF................................................................................................... 1-1

1.1.2 Introduction to RMON on IRF..................................................................................1-2

1.2 Peer Fabric Port Detection ................................................................................................1-2

1.2.1 Introduction to the Peer Fabric Port Detection Function.........................................1-2

1.2.2 Work Flow of the Peer Fabric Port Detection Function...........................................1-2

1.2.3 Prompt Information and Solution.............................................................................1-3

1.3 IRF Fabric Configuration.................................................................................................... 1-5

1.3.1 Introduction to IRF Fabric Configuration.................................................................1-5

1.3.2 Setting a Unit ID for a Switch..................................................................................1-5

1.3.3 Specifying the Fabric Port of a Switch....................................................................1-7

1.3.4 Assigning a Unit Name to a Switch.........................................................................1-7

1.3.5 Assigning an IRF Fabric Name to a Switch ............................................................ 1-8

1.4 Displaying and Debugging IRF Fabric...............................................................................1-8

1.5 IRF Fabric Configuration Example.....................................................................................1-9

1.5.1 Network Requirements............................................................................................1-9

1.5.2 Network Diagram.....................................................................................................1-9

1.5.3 Configuration Procedure.......................................................................................1-10

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Chapter 1

IRF Fabric Configuration

1-1

Chapter 1 IRF Fabric Configuration

1.1 Overview

1.1.1 Introduction to IRF

Several IRF (intelligent resilient framework) supported switches of the same model can

be interconnected to form a fabric, in which each switch is a unit. The ports used to

interconnect all the units are called fabric ports, and the other ports that are used to

connect the fabric to users are called user ports. In this way, you can increase ports and

switching capability by adding devices to the fabric. In addition, reliability of the system

will be improved because the devices within the fabric can backup each other. This

feature brings you many advantages:

z Realizes unified management of multiple devices. Only one connection and one IP

address are required to manage the entire fabric. Therefore, management cost is

reduced.

z Enables you to purchase devices on demand and expand network capacity

smoothly. Protects your investment to the full extent during network upgrade.

z Ensures high reliability by N+1 redundancy, avoids single point failure, and

lessens service interruption.

Fabric

Fabric port

user port

Fabric

Fabric port

user port

Figure 1-1 Fabri

You can manage and maintain fabric topology with the Fabric Topology Management

(FTM) function. FTM on each unit exchanges information with other units, including unit

ID, fabric name, and the authentication mode between units, by using a special kind of

protocol packets. It manages and maintains fabric topology according to the acquired

information. For example, when a new device is connected to a fabric, FTM will

determine whether it should establish a new fabric with the device according to the

obtained information.

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Chapter 1

IRF Fabric Configuration

1-2

1.1.2 Introduction to RMON on IRF

The remote monitoring (RMON) configurations of the devices in a fabric are the same.

The RMON configuration performed on a device of a fabric will be automatically

synchronized to all devices in the fabric if the configuration does not conflict with that of

other devices in the fabric.

If you configure the same entry in the same RMON group for devices of a fabric to be

different values, the value of the RMON group entry will be the one configured by the

device with the smallest Unit ID when the devices are synchronized. Such a

mechanism eliminates configuration conflicts between the devices in a fabric.

After the configurations are consistent, you can collect RMON history and statistics of

any unit from any switch in the fabric. For detailed information about RMON, refer to the

SNMP-RMON Operation part in H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches Operation

Manual.

1.2 Peer Fabric Port Detection

1.2.1 Introduction to the Peer Fabric Port Detection Function

As the basis of the IRF function, the fabric topology management (FTM) module

manages and maintains the entire topology of a fabric. The FTM module also

implements the peer fabric port detection function.

A device can join a fabric only when the following conditions are met.

z The number of the existing devices in the fabric does not reach the maximum

number of devices allowed by the fabric.

z The fabric names of the device and the existing devices in the fabric are the same.

z The software version of the device is the same as that of the existing devices in the

fabric.

z The device passes the security authentication if security authentication is enabled

in the fabric.

1.2.2 Work Flow of the Peer Fabric Port Detection Function

After a switch is powered on, the FTM module releases device information of the switch

through the fabric ports. The device information includes Unit ID, CPU MAC, device

type ID, fabric port information, and all fabric configuration information. The device

information is released in the form of discovery packet (DISC). A new device can join a

fabric only when its DISC packets pass the authentication performed by the existing

devices in the fabric.

z If a fabric port of a switch is connected to a non-fabric port, the switch will not

receive DISC packets from the peer. In this case, the switch cannot join the fabric.

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Chapter 1

IRF Fabric Configuration

1-3

z If the switch can receive DISC packets sent by the peer, the FTM module

determines whether peer sending ports correspond to local receiving ports

according to information in the packet. That is, if a DISC packet received by the UP

port of the switch is sent by the DOWN port of the peer device, the packet is

regarded legal. Otherwise, the packet is regarded illegal and is discarded.

z If the maximum number of devices allowed by the fabric is reached, the devices in

the fabric do not send DISC packets and discard the received DISC packets. This

prevents new devices from joining the fabric.

z After receiving a DISC packet from a directly connected device, a device in a fabric

checks whether the device information (that is, the Fabric name and software

version) contained in the packet and that of its own are the same. If not, the

received DISC packet is illegal and will be discarded.

z If authentication is enabled in the fabric, the current device in the fabric

authenticates received packets sent by new directly connected devices. Packets

that fail to pass the authentication will be discarded.

1.2.3 Prompt Information and Solution

The IRF Fabric peer detection function outputs different prompt information according

to the connection conditions of the devices within the Fabric. You can refer to the

following table to perform corresponding adjustment and maintenance for the Fabric.

Table 1-1 Prompt information analysis and solution

Prompt Analysis Solution

normal

it indicates the fabric operates

properly

temporary it indicates the port status is changing

redundance port

it indicates the port is the redundant

port in fabric ring topology

The “normal”,

“temporary” and

“redundance port”

information do not

mean a device or a

fabric operates

improperly. No

measure is needed

for any of these three

types of information

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Chapter 1

IRF Fabric Configuration

1-4

Prompt Analysis Solution

Two fabric ports of the

same device (that is,

the right port and the

left port) are

connected.

Pull out one end of

the cable and

connect it to a fabric

port of another

switch.

The left and right

fabric ports of two

devices are not

nected in a

ssed way.

con

cro

Connect the left and

right ports of two

devices in a crossed

way.

connection error

The port

matching

three kinds

of errors

A fabric port of the

local switch is

connected to a

non-fabric port, or is

connected to a fabric

port that does not

have fabric port

function enabled.

Check the types of

the two

interconnected ports

on two sides. Make

sure a fabric port is

only connected to

ports of the same

type and the fabric

ports on both sides

are enabled with the

fabric port function.

reached max units

it indicates that the maximum number

of units allowed by the current fabric is

reached

Remove the new

device or existing

devices in the fabric

different system

name

it indicates the fabric name of the

device directly connected to the

switch and the existing fabric name of

the fabric are not the same

Configure the fabric

name of the new

device to be that of

the fabric

different product

version

indicates the software version of the

directly connected device and that of

the current device are not the same

Make sure the

software version of

the new device is the

same as that of the

fabric

auth failure

it indicates error occurs when the

switch authenticates a directly

connected device. The error may

occur if the IRF fabric authentication

modes configured for the both devices

are not the same, or the password

configured does not match

Make sure the IRF

fabric authentication

modes and the

passwords

configured for the

both devices are the

same

 Note:

Up to eight devices can be in an IRF fabric at a time.

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Chapter 1

IRF Fabric Configuration

1-5

1.3 IRF Fabric Configuration

1.3.1 Introduction to IRF Fabric Configuration

FTM provides user interfaces. You can configure unit IDs, fabric name by using a

related command.

Table 1-2 Configure an IRF Fabric

Task Description Related section

Set and save the unit ID for a

switch

Optional

Section

1.3.2 “Setting a Unit

ID for a Switch

”

Specify the fabric ports for a

switch

Required

Section

1.3.3 “Specifying the

Fabric Port of a Switch

“

Set the unit name for a switch Optional

Section

1.3.4 “Assigning a

Unit Name to a Switch

”

Set a name for the IRF fabric Required

Section

1.3.5 “Assigning an

IRF Fabric Name to a Switch

”

1.3.2 Setting a Unit ID for a Switch

On the switches that support automatic numbering, FTM will automatically number the

switches to constitute an IRF fabric, so that each switch has a unique unit ID in the

fabric. You can use the command in the following table to set unit IDs for switches.

Make sure to set different unit IDs for different switches in an IRF fabric. Otherwise,

FTM will automatically number the switches with the same unit ID.

Table 1-3 Set a unit ID for a switch

Operation Command Description

Enter system

view

system-view

—

Set a unit ID for

the switch

change self-unit to { unit-id |

auto-numbering }

Optional

By default, the unit ID of a

switch that belongs to no IRF

fabric is 1. The unit ID of a

switch belonging to an IRF

fabric is assigned by FTM. Unit

ID ranges from 1 to 8.

 Note:

If you do not enable the fabric port, you cannot change the unit ID of the local switch.

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Chapter 1

IRF Fabric Configuration

1-6

After an IRF fabric is established, you can use the following command to change the

unit IDs of the switches in the IRF fabric.

Table 1-4 Set a unit ID to a new value

Operation Command Description

Enter system view

system-view

—

Set a unit ID to a new

value

change unit-id unit-id1 to { unit-id2 |

auto-numbering }

Optional

 Note:

z Unit IDs in an IRF fabric are not always arranged in order of 1 to 8.

z Unit IDs of an IRF fabric can be inconsecutive.

After you change the unit ID of switches, the following operations are performed.

z If the modified unit ID does not exist in the IRF fabric, the system sets its priority to

5 and saves it in the unit Flash memory.

z If the modified unit ID is an existing one, the system prompt you to confirm if you

really want to change the unit ID. If you choose to change, the existing unit ID is

replaced and the priority is set to 5. Then you can use the fabric save-unit-id

command to save the modified unit ID into the unit Flash memory and clear the

information about the existing one.

z If auto-numbering is selected, the system sets the unit priority to 10. You can use

the fabric save-unit-id command to save the modified unit ID into the unit Flash

memory and clear the information about the existing one.

 Note:

Priority is the reference for FTM module to perform automatic numbering. The value of

priority can be 5 or 10. A smaller value represents a higher priority. Priority 5 means the

switch adopts manual numbering, and priority 10 means the switch adopts automatic

numbering.

After the configuration of numbering, you can use the following command in the table to

save the local unit ID in the unit Flash memory. When you restart the switch, it can load

the unit ID configuration automatically.

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Chapter 1

IRF Fabric Configuration

1-7

Table 1-5 Save the unit ID of each unit in the IRF fabric

Operation Command Description

Save the unit ID of each

unit in the IRF fabric

fabric save-unit-id

Optional

1.3.3 Specifying the Fabric Port of a Switch

An S5600 series switch has two Cascade ports, which are used to connect the devices

within a Fabric. It is necessary to enable the Fabric function for the Cascade ports and

use local UP port to connect peer DOWN port or use local DOWN port to connect peer

UP port. Otherwise, the Fabric cannot function normally.

Table 1-6 Specify a fabric port

Operation Command Description

Enter system view

system-view

—

Specify the fabric port of a

switch

fabric-port interface-type

interface-number enable

Optional

 Note:

z Establishing an IRF system requires a high consistency of the configuration of each

device. Hence, before you enable the fabric port, do not perform any configuration

for the port, and do not enable some functions that affect the IRF (such as

TACACAS and BGP) for other ports or globally. Otherwise, you cannot enable the

fabric port. For detailed restrictions refer to the error information output by devices.

z As shutting down a fabric port directly may cause the fabric being removed and error

messages, do not perform such operations.

z To remove a fabric, you can simply remove the cables used to form the fabric or

disable fabric using the undo fabric-port enable command.

z You can shut down/bring up a port after you disable the fabric feature on the port.

1.3.4 Assigning a Unit Name to a Switch

You can assign a unit name to a switch by performing the operations listed in Table 1-7.

Table 1-7 Assign a unit name to a switch

Operation Command Description

Enter system view

system-view

—

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Chapter 1

IRF Fabric Configuration

1-8

Operation Command Description

Assign a unit name to a

switch

set unit unit-id name

unit-name

Required

1.3.5 Assigning an IRF Fabric Name to a Switch

Only the switches with the same IRF fabric name can form an IRF fabric.

Table 1-8 Assign a fabric name to a switch

Operation Command Description

Enter system view

system-view

—

Assign a fabric name to

the switch

sysname sysname

Optional

By default, the IRF fabric

name is H3C.

 Note:

When an IRF fabric operates normally, you can regard the whole fabric as a single

device and perform configuration on it. Multiple switches constitute an IRF fabric.

Therefore, data transmission and simultaneous program execution among the

switches may cause the IRF fabric in a busy situation. When you configure the IRF

fabric, you may receive a prompt “Fabric system is busy, please try later…” which

indicates the fabric system does not perform your configuration properly. In this case,

you need to verify your previous configuration or perform your configuration again.

1.4 Displaying and Debugging IRF Fabric

Following completion of the above configuration, you can execute the display

command in any view to view device management and verify the settings. And you can

execute the reset command to clear the FTM statistics.

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Chapter 1

IRF Fabric Configuration

1-9

Table 1-9 Display and debug FTM

Operation Command Description

Display the information

about an IRF fabric

display irf-fabric [ status ]

Display the topology

information of an IRF

fabric

display ftm { information |

topology-database }

Display RMON statistics

of a specified unit in an

IRF fabric

display rmon statistics

unit unit-id

Display RMON history

data of a specified unit in

an IRF fabric

display rmon history unit

unit-id

These commands can be

executed in any view.

Clear the FTM statistics

reset ftm statistics

Execute this command in

user view

1.5 IRF Fabric Configuration Example

1.5.1 Network Requirements

Configure unit ID, unit name, IRF fabric name for four switches to enable them to form

an IRF fabric.

The configuration details are as follows:

z Unit IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4

z Unit names: unit 1, unit 2, unit 3, unit 4

z Fabric name: hello

1.5.2 Network Diagram

Fabric

Fabric port

user port

Fabric

Fabric port

user port

h B

Switch A Switc

Switch C Switch

Fabric

Fabric port

user port

Fabric

Fabric port

user port

h B

Switch A Switc

Switch C Switch

Figure 1-2 Network diagram for forming an IRF fabric

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric

H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Chapter 1

IRF Fabric Configuration

1-10

1.5.3 Configuration Procedure

1) Configure Switch A.

# Configure the unit ID as 1.

<H3C> system-view

[H3C] change unit-id 1 to 1

# Configure the unit name as unit 1.

[H3C] set unit 1 name unit1

# Configure the fabric name as hello.

[H3C] sysname hello

2) Configure Switch B.

# Configure the unit ID as 2.

<H3C> system-view

[H3C] change unit-id 1 to 2

# Configure the unit name as unit 2.

[H3C] set unit 1 name unit2

# Configure the fabric name as hello.

[H3C] sysname hello

Configurations on Switch C and Switch D are similar with the above configurations.

H3C H3C S5600 Series Operating instructions

Brand: H3C

Model: H3C S5600 Series

Category: Network switches

Type: Operating instructions

Download PDF

report

H3C H3C S5600 Series Operating instructions

H3C H3C S5600 Series Operating instructions

Related papers

Other documents