IRF Principle and Implementation Configuration

All configurations are divided into global configuration and local configuration. Global configuration includes layer 3 interface, IP address, routing protocol and security feature. It is efficient in the whole Fabric. Local configuration mainly includes the port parameters and it is efficient in a local Unit only. One Fabric ensures that the global configurations are identical when the system is running.

How to implement it? 1. Begin with as minimal of a configuration as possible to ensure the global configurations are identical. 2. The global configuration will be broadcast to each Unit for synchronous execution and the local configuration will be sent to the relevant Unit for execution.

IRF Principle and Implementation Configuration Comparison

Begin with a minimal configuration on all devices. Preferred to reset savedconfiguration and reboot prior to starting. Configuration comparison will be performed at of system start, new Unit joining or merge. The Unit with the highest priority serves as the reference in the configuration comparison. All other devices are re-written except for the local port and IRF configuration.

Fabric configuration Global configuration Local allocation Global configuration

Fabric configuration Global configuration Local allocation Global configuration

UNIT1

UNIT2

Basic Configuration Steps

1. On the chassis-based switches, convert them to IRF-mode 2. Choose a switch to be the master switch 3. Assign a high IRF priority to the master and ensure its Member ID is 1. 4. Assign a different Member ID to each one of the other switches in the IRF group and reboot them. 5. Shut down all the physical ports that will be used for the IRF connectivity. 6. Assign the physical ports to the IRF logical interface 7. Enable the physical ports used with IRF (cont.)
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Basic Configuration Steps (cont.)

8. Save the configuration of each device and turn them off. 9. Physically connect the IRF links to build the IRF fabric.
(See the next slide for connection guidelines) Wait until the boot process is complete before turning on the next device. This will guarantee that this unit will become the master.

10. Turn on the unit that needs to be the master (Member-id=1)

11. Repeat the process for each member (turn on and wait). This step is called device insertion. Always turn on a device connected to other devices that are already up and running.

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IRF Connections
IRF Port Numbering
Syntax: irf-port x/y
X is the member number Y is the logical port number

Logical Ports
IRF logical port 1 of one device must be connected to IRF logical port 2 of the next device Connecting IRF-ports of the same logical number will prevent the devices to recognize each other as members of the same IRF group

IRF Configuration Example:

irf-port 1/2 irf-port 1/1 irf-port 2/2 irf-port 2/1 irf-port 3/2 irf-port 3/1

Master Member 1

Slave Member 2
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Slave Member 3

IRF Configuration Master 1 (Step 1)

On Chassis Systems, you must first enable IRF mode (only applies to the 7500E and highernot the 5820x and 5500-EI): [H3C] chassis convert mode irf This command will convert the device to IRF mode and the device will reboot. Are you sure? [Y/N] y

The device reboots automatically to switch its operating mode. (To reverse this command enter the undo chassis convert mode command)

IRF Configuration Master 1 (Steps 2 and 3)

Assign the IRF Priority of the switch and save the configuration: [H3C] irf member 1 priority 32
Where priority can be an integer value from 1 to 32, 1 being the lowest 32 being the highest priority. Highest priority take precedence over a lower priority.

[H3C] save

IRF Configuration Master 1 (Step 5)

Shutdown the ports that are to operate as IRF-Ports: [H3C] interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/3/0/25 [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet1/3/0/25] shutdown [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet1/3/0/25] quit [H3C] interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/3/0/26 [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet1/3/0/25] shutdown [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet1/3/0/25] quit
Notice the extra number in the interface designation. The first number (1/) is the Chassis ID (member number) associated by IRF.

IRF Configuration Master 1 (Step 6)

Assign the ports to their respective IRF-Port: [H3C] irf-port 1/2 [H3C-irf-port 1/2] port group interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/3/0/25 [H3C-irf-port 1/2] port group interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/3/0/26 [H3C-irf-port 1/2] quit Note: This is Logical IRF-Port #2. This port MUST be connected to another System 2s logical port #1

IRF Configuration Master 1 (Step 7 and 8)

Re-activate the assigned ports: [H3C] interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/3/0/25 [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet1/3/0/25] undo shutdown [H3C] interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/3/0/26 [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet1/3/0/25] undo shutdown [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet1/3/0/25] quit [H3C] irf-port-configuration active %May 5 23:18:40:124 2010 H3C STM/4/MERGE: IRF merge occurs and the IRF system does not need to reboot. [H3C] save
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IRF Configuration Slave 2 (Step 1)

On Chassis Systems, you must first enable IRF mode: [H3C] chassis convert mode irf This command will convert the device to IRF mode and the device will reboot. Are you sure? [Y/N] y The device reboots automatically to switch its operating mode. A configuration register is set to indicate IRF mode To reverse this command enter the undo chassis convert mode command

IRF Configuration Slave 2 (Steps 2, 3, and 4)

Renumber the unit to the second IRF device: [H3C] irf member 1 renumber 2 Warning: Renumbering the switch number may result in configuration change or loss. Continue? [Y/N]: y [H3C] quit <H3C> reboot
You can validate the IRF unit number using the display irf command.

IRF Configuration Slave 2 (Step 5)

Shutdown the ports that are to operate as IRF-Ports: [H3C] interface TenGigabitEthernet 2/3/0/25 [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet2/3/0/25] shutdown [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet2/3/0/25] quit [H3C] interface TenGigabitEthernet 2/3/0/26 [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet2/3/0/25] shutdown [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet2/3/0/25] quit
Notice the extra number in the interface designation (2/). This is the Chassis ID (member number) associated by IRF.

IRF Configuration Slave 2 (Step 6)

Assign the ports to their respective IRF-Port: [H3C] irf-port 2/1 [H3C-irf-port 2/1] port group interface TenGigabitEthernet 2/3/0/25 [H3C-irf-port 2/1] port group interface TenGigabitEthernet 2/3/0/26 [H3C-irf-port 2/1] quit This places both ports into the Logical IRF-Port of 2/1 Note: that this is Logical IRF-Port #1. This port MUST be connected to another switchs logical port #2
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IRF Configuration Slave 2 (Step 7 and 8)

Re-activate the assigned ports and save the configuration: [H3C] interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/3/0/25 [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet1/3/0/25] undo shutdown [H3C] interface ten-gigabitethernet 1/3/0/26 [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet1/3/0/25] undo shutdown [H3C-Ten-GigabitEthernet1/3/0/25] quit [H3C] irf-port-configuration active %May 5 23:16:57:541 2010 H3C STM/4/MERGE: IRF merge occurs and the IRF system needs a reboot. [H3C] save [H3C] quit <H3C> reboot
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IRF Configuration Completion

When you connect the two switches together:
Chassis switches - The unit with the lowest priority should request at the command line to be rebooted Stackable switches The unit with the lowest priority will automatically be rebooted!!!

Once the unit(s) come back up, they will be in full IRF mode. This can be validated with the display irf command