Chapter 5
Network Applications
This chapter contains information on advanced network applications. The topics include:
zX-Ring Application
zCouple Ring Application
zDual Homing Application
zDual Ring Application
5-1 X-Ring Application
X-Ring is an advanced industrial redundant technology introduced by Ethernet Direct. When compared with the commercial standard redundant technologies like STP or RSTP, the X-Ring can effectively reduce the recovery time to less than 300ms. The ring topology must be applied to all the connected switches. When all switches are connected in a ring topology with X-Ring function enabled, on of the switches will be appointed as Ring Master. The Ring Master will monitor the ring’s health to make sure the ring is working properly. Once a failure is detected by the Ring Master, the Ring Master will activate the blocked backup path within milliseconds to replace the faulty primary transmission path to make sure the ring topology will continue to work. In addition, there are multiple Ring Masters allowed in the ring connections. Please see below figure 1 for the example of an X-Ring connection.
Figure 1 Example of X-Ring Connection Diagram
5-2 Couple Ring
In the real world implementation, there are cases that require two X-Ring groups to be connected together to ensure redundant protection. Couple Ring technology was introduced by Ethernet for this requirement. With Couple Ring function, each X-Ring group will need to assign two switches with 2 extra ports to achieve the structure. For this reason, the total switches needed for the Couple Ring to work will be four switches, and each switch is assigned with four ports for completing a Couple Ring (including the two X-Ring ports per switch). Please see below figure 2 for example of Couple Ring connection.
5-1
