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Cisco IE 2000 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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Chapter 6 Configuring Switch Clusters
Restrictions for Configuring Switch Clusters
Restrictions for Configuring Switch Clusters
We do not recommend using the ip http access-class global configuration command to limit access to
specific hosts or networks. Access should be controlled through the cluster command switch or by
applying access control lists (ACLs) on interfaces that are configured with IP address. For more
information on ACLs, see Chapter 37, “Configuring Network Security with ACLs.”
Information About Configuring Switch Clusters
A switch cluster is a set of up to 16 connected, cluster-capable Catalyst switches that are managed as a
single entity. The switches in the cluster use the switch clustering technology so that you can configure
and troubleshoot a group of different Catalyst desktop switch platforms through a single IP address.
In a switch cluster, one switch must be the cluster command switch and up to 15 other switches can be
cluster member switches. The total number of switches in a cluster cannot exceed 16 switches. The
cluster command switch is the single point of access used to configure, manage, and monitor the cluster
member switches. Cluster members can belong to only one cluster at a time.

Benefits of Clustering Switches

• Management of switches regardless of their interconnection media and their physical locations. The
switches can be in the same location, or they can be distributed across a Laye r 2 or Layer 3 (if your
cluster is using a Catalyst 3550, Catalyst 3560, or Catalyst 3750 switch as a Layer 3 router between
the Layer 2 switches in the cluster) network.
Cluster members are connected to the cluster command switch according to the connectivity
guidelines described in the “Automatic Discovery of Cluster Candidates and Members” section on
page 6-5. This section includes management VLAN consideration s for the Catalyst 1900,
Catalyst 2820, Catalyst 2900 XL, Catalyst 2950, and Catalyst 3500 XL switches. For complete
information about these switches in a switch-cluster environment, ref er to the software
configuration guide for that specific switch.
• Command-switch redundancy if a cluster command switch fails. One or more switches can be
designated as standby cluster command switches to avoid loss of contact with cluster members. A
cluster standby group is a group of standby cluster command switches.
• Management of a variety of switches through a single IP address. This preserves IP addresses,
especially if you have a limited number of them. All communication with the switch cluster is
through the cluster command switch IP address.

Eligible Cluster Switches

Table 6-1 lists the switches eligible for switch clustering, including which ones can be cluster command
switches and which ones can only be cluster member switches, and the required software versions.
Tab l e 6-1 Switch Software and Cluster Capability
Switch Cisco IOS Release Cluster Capability
IE 2000 switch 15.0(1)EY or later Member or command switch
IE 3010 switch 12.2(53)EZ or later Member or command switch