Irf Split; Irf Merge - HP 7500 series Configuration Manual

As shown in
2. The fabrics have LACP MAD detection links between them. When a member switch in one IRF fabric
receives an extended LACP packet for MAD detection, it looks at the domain ID in the packet to see
whether the packet is from the local IRF fabric or from a different IRF fabric. Then, the switch can handle
the packet correctly.
Figure 4 A network that comprises two IRF domains

IRF split

IRF split occurs when an IRF fabric breaks up into two or more IRF fabrics because of IRF link failures, as
shown in Figure
forwarding problems on the network.
Figure 5 IRF split

IRF merge

IRF merge occurs when two split IRF fabrics re-unite or when you configure and connect two independent
IRF fabrics to be one IRF fabric, as shown in
Figure 4, Switch A and Switch B form IRF fabric 1, and Switch C and Switch D form IRF fabric
5. The split IRF fabrics operate with the same IP address and cause routing and
Figure 6.
6