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configuration of this capability is included in 7.5.3, “Base configuration common to all examples” on page 68.
Notes:
The BASP driver can be configured to use
The current production version of the GbESM software(1.0.1.6) does not support trunking on internal ports. The next (1.1) software release will add this function.
The Nortel L2/7 GbESM (but not the L2/3 GbESM) supports a capability called Server Load Balancing (SLB). This is not similar to the Broadcom Smart Load Balancing; it involved multiple servers running the same application.
Some of the previous descriptions contain as is information based on a test in our specific environment with BASP 7.12.01, the latest as this paper is written, and might differ in different environments or future software releases.
For more information about BASP NIC teaming, refer to the BACS online help and BCM570X Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet Teaming white paper, which is available at:
7.3.3 Introduction to VRRP
Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) is a Layer 3 protocol used to enable switches to back each other up in a way which is transparent to client and server computers. VRRP works by defining an address which is shared between the switches. One switch which is the Master is the only one which will answer to the shared address. One or more other switches in Backup state are configured to take over from the master in the event of a failure. An instance of VRRP is configured for each VLAN where a shared address is to be used. This implies that if there is one VLAN for the internal ports and an additional VLAN for the external ports, then there can be two instances of VRRP, providing a shared address on the internal VLAN and a different shared address on the external VLAN. An example configuration which illustrates this is in 7.7, “Advanced Layer 2 topology sample configurations” on page 80.
VRRP Priority
Each switch in a group running VRRP has a configured priority. When VRRP first becomes active, the switch with the highest priority will become the Master switch. The master switch sends out periodic hello packets announcing that it is still operational. The backup switch with the highest configured priority will take over when the hello packets are no longer received.
There are configuration options, called tracking options, which adjust the priority of a switch dynamically based on the number of certain categories of resources (such as ports) which are available. Use of these options can allow a backup switch to take over even if the current master is still running but has lost some of the tracked resources.
64Nortel Networks L2/3 Ethernet Switch Module for IBM Eserver BladeCenter