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Chapter 18 Cluster Network
Management
18.1 Introduction to cluster network management
Cluster network management is an in-band configuration management. Unlike CLI,
SNMP and Web Config which implement a direct management of the target switches
through a management workstation, cluster network management implements a direct
management of the target switches (member switches) through an intermediate switch
(commander switch). A commander switch can manage multiple member switches. As
soon as a Public IP address is configured in the commander switch, all the member
switches which are configured with private IP addresses can be managed remotely. This
feature economizes public IP addresses which are short of supply. Cluster network
management can dynamically discover cluster feature enabled switches (candidate
switches). Network managers can statically or dynamically add the candidate switches to
the cluster which is already established. Accordingly, they can configure and manage the
member switches through the commander switch. When the member switches are
distributed in various physical locations (such as on the different floors of the same
building), cluster network management has obvious advantages. Moreover, cluster
network management is an in-band management. The commander switch can
communicate with member switches with existing network. There is no need to build a
specific network for network management.
Cluster network management has the following features:
z Save IP addresses
z Simplify configuration tasks
z Indifference to network protocol and network length limitation
z Auto detect and auto establishment
z With factory default settings, the switches can be managed by cluster network
management
z The commander switch can upgrade and configure any member switches in the
cluster