672 APPENDIX D: 3COM XRN
What is XRN? XRN (eXpandable Resilient Network) is a 3Com LAN technology built into the
software and hardware of your Switch that offers high availability, scalability, and
connectivity.
Supported Switches XRN is supported by the 3Com Operating System on the following Switches
installed with Version 1.0 software or later:
XRN is standards based. The 3Com only proprietary technology operates across
the Fabric Interconnect ports.
XRN Terminology This section contains a glossary of the common XRN terminology.
eXpandable Resilient
Network (XRN)
XRN is developed by 3Com that allows you to implement fault tolerant, high
performance and scalable multilayer networks.
Fabric Interconnect Fabric Interconnect is the interconnection between XRN Switches that form the
Distributed Fabric.
XRN Distributed Fabric
(Distributed Fabric)
XRN Distributed Fabric is the term used to describe interconnected devices
supporting XRN.
Distributed Device
Management (DDM)
DDM allows Switches in the XRN Distributed Fabric to behave as a single
managed entity, irrespective of the form factor or Switch deployed. For further
information see page 673.
Distributed Link
Aggregation (DLA)
DLA is the configuration of Aggregated Links across interconnected devices in
the Distributed Fabric. 3Com and non-3Com devices can connect to the XRN
Distributed Fabric using DLA. For further information see page 674.
Distributed Resilient
Routing (DRR)
DRR provides distributed routing and router resiliency across an XRN Distributed
Fabric. For further information see page 673.
Table690 3Com Switch 5500 Support for XRN Distributed Fabric
3Com Switch XRN support
Switch 5500-SI 28-Port (3CR17151-91) Only supports DDM and DLA*
*Distributed Device Management, Distributed Link Aggregation
Switch 5500-SI 52-Port (3CR17152-91) Only supports DDM and DLA*
Switch 5500-EI 28-Port (3CR17161-91) Full XRN functionality
Switch 5500-EI 52-Port (3CR17162-91) Full XRN functionality
Switch 5500-EI PWR 28-Port (3CR17171-91) Full XRN functionality
Switch 5500-EI PWR 52-Port (3CR17172-91) Full XRN functionality
Switch 5500-EI 28-Port FX (3CR17181-91) Full XRN functionality
Switch 5500G-EI 24-Port (3CR17254-91) (no PSU) Full XRN functionality
Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port (3CR17255-91) (no PSU) Full XRN functionality
Switch 5500G-EI 24-Port (3CR17250-91) (non-PoE
PSU)
Full XRN functionality
Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port (3CR17251-91) (non-PoE
PSU)
Full XRN functionality
Switch 5500G-EI 24-Port (3CR17252-91) (PoE PSU) Full XRN functionality
Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port (3CR17253-91) (PoE PSU) Full XRN functionality