Advantech EKI-7657C User Manual

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81                                                                                  Chapter3 
X-Ring 
 
X-Ring provides a faster redundant recovery than Spanning Tree topology. The action is similar to STP or 
RSTP, but the algorithms between them are not the same. 
 
In the X-Ring topology, every switch should be enabled with X-Ring function and two ports should be 
assigned as the member ports in the ring. Only one switch in the X-Ring group would be set as the 
master switch that one of its two member ports would be blocked, called backup port, and another port is 
called working port. Other switches in the X-Ring group are called working switches  and their two 
member ports are called working ports. When the failure of network connection occurs, the backup port of 
the master switch (Ring Master) will automatically become a working port to recover from the failure. 
 
The switch supports the function and interface for setting the switch as the ring master or not. The ring 
master can negotiate and place command to other switches in the X-Ring group. If there are 2 or more 
switches in master mode, the software will select the switch with lowest MAC address number as the ring 
master. The X-Ring master ring mode can be enabled by setting the X-Ring configuration interface. Also, 
the user can identify whether the switch is the ring master by checking the R.M. LED indicator on the 
panel of the switch. 
 
The system also supports the Couple Ring that can connect 2 or more X-Ring group for the redundant 
backup function; Dual Homing function that can prevent connection lose between X-Ring group and 
upper level/core switch. Apart from the advantages, Central Ring can handle up to 4 rings in the system 
and has the ability to recover from failure within 10 milliseconds. 
 
•  Enable Ring: To enable the X-Ring function, tick the checkbox beside the Enable Ring string label. If 
this checkbox is not ticked, all the ring functions are unavailable. 
¾
  Enable Ring Master: Tick the checkbox to enable this switch to be the ring master. 
¾
  1st & 2nd Ring Ports: Pull down the selection menu to assign the ports as the member ports. 
1
st
 Ring Port is the working port and 2
nd
 Ring Port is the backup port. When 1
st
 Ring Port fails, 
the system will automatically upgrade the 2
nd
 Ring Port to be the working port. 
•  Enable Couple Ring: To enable the coupe ring function, tick the checkbox beside the Enable Couple 
Ring string label. 
¾
  Couple port: Assign the member port which is connected to the other ring group. 
¾
  Control port: When the Enable Couple Ring checkbox is ticked, you have to assign the 
control port to form a couple-ring group between the two X-rings. 
•  Enable Dual Homing: Set up one of the ports on the switch to be the Dual Homing port. For a switch, 
there is only one Dual Homing port.  Dual Homing function only works when the X-Ring function 
enabled. 
•  Enable Dual Ring: When this check box is ticked, the ‘Enable Ring Master’ check box will then also    
be enabled by the system which means this equipment is assigned as the Ring Master. The Dual Ring 
differs from the Couple Ring in that it only needs a unit to form a redundant linking system of two rings. 
•  And then, click  Apply  to apply the configuration.