2-1
2 Monitor Link Configuration

Introduction to Monitor Link

Monitor Link is a collaboration scheme introduced to complement for Smart Link. It is used to monitor
uplink and to perfect the backup function of Smart Link.
A monitor Link consists of an uplink port and one or multiple downlink ports. When the link for the uplink
port of a Monitor Link group fails, all the downlink ports in the Monitor Link group are forced down. When
the link for the uplink port recovers, all the downlink ports in the group are re-enabled.
Figure 2-1 Network diagram for a Monitor Link group implementation
Swit ch A
GE1/0/1
GE1/0/2GE1/0/3
Uplink
Downlink
As shown in Figure 2-1, the Monitor Link group configured on the device Switch A consists of an uplink
port (GigabitEthernet 1/0/1) and two downlink ports (GigabitEthernet 1/0/2 and GigabitEthernet 1/0/3).
A member port can be an Ethernet port, static LACP aggregation group, manual link aggregation group,
or Smart Link group. A Smart Link group can serve as the uplink port only.