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Cisco IE 3010 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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Chapter 5 Clustering Switches
Understanding Switch Clusters
Cluster Command Switch Characteristics
A cluster command switch must meet these requirements:
• It is running Cisco IOS Release 12.2(53)EZ or later.
• It has an IP address.
• It has Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) version 2 enabled (the default).
• It is not a command or cluster member switch of another cluster.
• It is connected to the standby cluster command switches through the management VLAN and to the
cluster member switches through a common VLAN.
Standby Cluster Command Switch Characteristics
A standby cluster command switch must meet these requirements:
• It is running Cisco IOS 12.2(53)EZ or later.
• It has an IP address.
• It has CDP version 2 enabled.
• It is connected to the command switch and to other standby command switches through its
management VLAN.
• It is connected to all other cluster member switches (except the cluster command and standby
command switches) through a common VLAN.
• It is redundantly connected to the cluster so that connectivity to cluster member switches is
maintained.
• It is not a command or member switch of another cluster.
Candidate Switch and Cluster Member Switch Characteristics
Candidate switches are cluster-capable switches that have not yet been added to a cluster. Cluster
member switches are switches that have actually been added to a switch cluster. Although not required,
a candidate or cluster member switch can have its own IP address and password (for related
considerations, see the
“IP Addresses” section on page 5-11 and “Passwords” section on page 5-12).
To join a cluster, a candidate switch must meet these requirements:
• It is running cluster-capable software.
• It has CDP version 2 enabled.
• It is not a command or cluster member switch of another cluster.
• If a cluster standby group exists, it is connected to every standby cluster command switch through
at least one common VLAN. The VLAN to each standby cluster command switch can be different.
• It is connected to the cluster command switch through at least one common VLAN.
