Configuring Irf; General Restrictions And Configuration Guidelines; Software Requirements; Irf Fabric Size - HP 12500 SERIES Configuration Manual

Configuring IRF

Read the configuration restrictions and guidelines carefully when you connect and set up an IRF
fabric.

General restrictions and configuration guidelines

Software requirements

All IRF member devices must run the same software image version.

IRF fabric size

A 12500 IRF fabric can have up to four chassis.

MPU and IRF port restrictions

Every IRF member device must have at least one MPU. If you replace MPUs while the IRF fabric
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is operating, do not remove all MPUs of a member device.
If a member device has two MPUs, the MPUs must be the same model.
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Both fiber and copper Ethernet ports can be used for IRF connection. HP recommends using
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10-GE fiber ports for high performance.
When connecting two neighboring IRF members, connect IRF-port 1 on one member to
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IRF-port 2 on the other.
Suppose you have four chassis: A, B, C, and D. IRF-port 1 and IRF-port 2 are represented by A1
and A2 on chassis A, represented by B1 and B2 on chassis B, and so on. To connect the four
chassis into a ring: A-B-C-D(A), the IRF links must be A1-B2, B1-C2, C1-D2, and D1-A2; or
A2-B1, B2-C1, C2-D1, and D2-A1.
If multiple physical links are used between two member chassis, bind them all to IRF-port 1 on
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one chassis and to IRF-port 2 on the other. If the number of physical ports at two ends of an
aggregate IRF link differs, the IRF fabric cannot be formed.

IRF link redundancy

Up to 12 physical ports can be bound to one IRF port for IRF link redundancy. The physical
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ports of an IRF port are load shared.
Physical ports bound to an IRF port can be located on different cards.
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HP recommends using multicard IRF links to avoid a card removal causing an IRF split.
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Feature and IRF mode compatibility

To form an IRF fabric:
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