6-9
Catalyst 3560 Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-8553-06
Chapter 6 Clustering Switches
Planning a Switch Cluster
Figure 6-5 Discovery Through Routed Ports
Discovery of Newly Installed Switches
To join a cluster, the new, out-of-the-box switch must be connected to the cluster through one of its
access ports. An access port (AP) carries the traffic of and belongs to only one VLAN. By default, the
new switch and its access ports are assigned to VLAN 1.
When the new switch joins a cluster, its default VLAN changes to the VLAN of the immediately
upstream neighbor. The new switch also configures its access port to belong to the VLAN of the
immediately upstream neighbor.
The cluster command switch in Figure 6-6 belongs to VLANs 9 and 16. When new cluster-capable
switches join the cluster:
One cluster-capable switch and its access port are assigned to VLAN 9.
The other cluster-capable switch and its access port are assigned to management VLAN 16.
Figure 6-6 Discovery of Newly Installed Switches
101324
RP
RP
VLAN 62
VLAN
9
VLAN 62
VLAN 9
VLAN 4
VLAN 9
Command device
(management
VLAN 62)
Member
device 7
Command device
New (out-of-box)
candidate device
AP
Device A Device B
VLAN 9
VLAN 9
VLAN 16
VLAN 16
New (out-of-box)
candidate device
AP
101325