H3C H3C S5600 Series User manual

Operation Manual – IRF Fabric
H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches-Release 1510 Table of Contents
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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
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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:
zRealizes unified management of multipledevices. Only one connection and one IP
address are required to manage the entire fabric. Therefore, management cost is
reduced.
zEnables you to purchase devices on demand and expand network capacity
smoothly. Protects your investment to the full extent during network upgrade.
zEnsures high reliability by N+1 redundancy, avoids single point failure, and
lessens service interruption.
Fabric
Fabric port
user port
Fabric
Fabric port
user port
c 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
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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.
zThe number of the existing devices in the fabric does not reach the maximum
number of devices allowed by the fabric.
zThe fabric names of the device and the existing devices in the fabric are the same.
zThe software version of the device is thesame as that of the existing devices in the
fabric.
zThe 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 switchis powered on, the FTM module releasesdevice 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). Anew device can join a
fabric only when its DISC packets pass the authentication performed by the existing
devices in the fabric.
zIf 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.

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zIf 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.
zIf 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.
zAfter 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.
zIf 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

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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.

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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.

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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:
zUnit IDs in an IRF fabric are not always arranged in order of 1 to 8.
zUnit IDs of an IRF fabric can be inconsecutive.
After you change the unit ID of switches, the following operations are performed.
zIf 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.
zIf 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.
zIf auto-numbering is selected, the system sets the unitpriority 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.

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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:
zEstablishing 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.
zAs shutting down a fabric port directly may cause the fabric being removed and error
messages, do not perform such operations.
zTo remove a fabric, you can simply remove the cables used to form the fabric or
disable fabric using the undo fabric-port enable command.
zYou 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 byperforming 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 —

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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.

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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:
zUnit IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4
zUnit names: unit 1, unit 2, unit 3, unit 4
zFabric name: hello
1.5.2 Network Diagram
Fabric
Fabric port
user port
Fabric
Fabric port
user port
h B
D
Switch A Switc
Switch C Switch
Fabric
Fabric port
user port
Fabric
Fabric port
user port
h B
D
Switch A Switc
Switch C Switch
Figure 1-2 Network diagram for forming an IRF fabric

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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.