3com 8807 User Guide

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HA C
ONFIGURATION
Introduction to HA
HA (high availability) is to achieve a high availability of the system and to recover 
the system as soon as possible in the event of fabric failures so as to shorten the 
MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) of the system.
The functions of HA are mainly implemented by the application running on master 
and slave modules. The two modules are working in the master-slave mode: one 
module works in master mode, the other work in slave mode. If the master-slave 
system detects a fault in the master module, a hot master-slave switchover will be 
performed automatically. The slave module will try to connect and control the 
system bus while the original master module will try to disconnect from the bus. 
Thus, the master-slave switchover of the active system is completed, and at the 
same time the original master module is reset to recover as soon as possible and 
then function as the slave module. Even if the master module fails, the slave 
module can also take its role to ensure the normal operation, and the system can 
recover as soon as possible.
Switch 8800 Family series support hot swap of master and slave modules. The hot 
swap of master modules will cause master-slave switchover.
Switch 8800 Family series support manual master-slave switchover. You can 
change the current module state manually by executing command.
The configuration file of slave is copied from master module at the same time. This 
can ensure that the slave system continues to operate in the same configuration as 
that of the original active system after the slave system has taken place of the 
active system. Switch 8800 Family series support automatic synchronization. The 
active system stores its configuration file and backup the configuration file to the 
slave system simultaneously when the master’s configuration file is modified, 
ensuring the consistency of the configurations of the active system and slave 
system.
Besides, the system can monitor the power supply and the working environment 
of the system and give timely alarms to avoid the escalation of failures and ensure 
safe operations of the system.
CAUTION: The Switch 8800 Family active and standby modules must both be in 
position and run the same version of program. Otherwise, the switch cannot 
operate normally.
Configuring HA
The following sections describe the HA configuration tasks: