H3C S5120-EI Series Configuration Manual

Also see for S5120-EI Series: Configuration guide Installation manual Configuration guide Operation manual Configuration guide

H3C S5120-EI Series Configuration Manual Manual pdf 9 page image

1IRF overviewThe H3C Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) technology creates a large IRF fabric from multiple switchesto provide data center class availability and scalability. IRF virtualization technology offers processingpower, interaction, unified management, and uninterrupted maintenance of multiple switches.This book describes IRF concepts and guides you through the IRF setup procedure.Hardware compatibilityAmong the S5120-EI switches, S5120-28C-EI, S5120-52C-EI, S5120-28C-PWR-EI, andS5120-52C-PWR-EI support IRF. You can establish an IRF fabric among these S5120-EI switches, but mustpurchase at least one 10-GE interface card listed in "IRF physical port restrictions and cablingrequirements."IRF benefitsIRF provides the following benefits:• Simplified topology and easy management—An IRF fabric appears as one node and is accessibleat a single IP address on the network. You can use this IP address to log in at any member deviceto manage all the members of the IRF fabric. In addition, you do not need to run the spanning treefeature among the IRF members.• 1:N redundancy—In an IRF fabric, one member works as the master to manage and control theentire IRF fabric, and all the other members process services while backing up the master. When themaster fails, all the other member devices elect a new master from among them to take over withoutinterrupting services.• IRF link aggregation—You can assign several physical links between neighboring members to theirIRF ports to create a load-balanced aggregate IRF connection with redundancy.• Multiple-chassis link aggregation—You can use the Ethernet link aggregation feature to aggregatethe physical links between the IRF fabric and its upstream or downstream devices across the IRFmembers.• Network scalability and resiliency—Processing capacity of an IRF fabric equals the totalprocessing capacities of all the members. You can increase ports, network bandwidth, andprocessing capacity of an IRF fabric simply by adding member devices without changing thenetwork topology.Application scenarioFigure 1 shows an IRF fabric that is formed by two switches, which appear as a single node to the upperand lower layer devices.