5-3
Cisco IE 3010 Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-23145-01
Chapter 5 Clustering Switches
Understanding Switch Clusters
Cluster Command Switch Characteristics
A cluster command switch must meet these requirements:
It is running Cisco IOS Release 12.2(53)EZ or later.
It has an IP address.
It has Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) version 2 enabled (the default).
It is not a command or cluster member switch of another cluster.
It is connected to the standby cluster command switches through the management VLAN and to the
cluster member switches through a common VLAN.
Standby Cluster Command Switch Characteristics
A standby cluster command switch must meet these requirements:
It is running Cisco IOS 12.2(53)EZ or later.
It has an IP address.
It has CDP version 2 enabled.
It is connected to the command switch and to other standby command switches through its
management VLAN.
It is connected to all other cluster member switches (except the cluster command and standby
command switches) through a common VLAN.
It is redundantly connected to the cluster so that connectivity to cluster member switches is
maintained.
It is not a command or member switch of another cluster.
Candidate Switch and Cluster Member Switch Characteristics
Candidate switches are cluster-capable switches that have not yet been added to a cluster. Cluster
member switches are switches that have actually been added to a switch cluster. Although not required,
a candidate or cluster member switch can have its own IP address and password (for related
considerations, see the “IP Addresses” section on page 5-11 and “Passwords” section on page 5-12).
To join a cluster, a candidate switch must meet these requirements:
It is running cluster-capable software.
It has CDP version 2 enabled.
It is not a command or cluster member switch of another cluster.
If a cluster standby group exists, it is connected to every standby cluster command switch through
at least one common VLAN. The VLAN to each standby cluster command switch can be different.
It is connected to the cluster command switch through at least one common VLAN.