Planning Irf Topology And Connections; Identifying Physical Irf Ports On The Member Switches; Installing Irf Member Switches; Configuring Basic Irf Settings - HP FlexFabric 11908-V Installation Manual

An IRF fabric has only one master switch. You configure and manage all member switches in the IRF
fabric at the CLI of the master. IRF member switches will automatically elect a master. You can affect the
election result by assigning a high member priority to the intended master switch. For more information
about master election, see HP FlexFabric 1 1900 Switch Series IRF Configuration Guide.
Prepare an IRF member ID assignment scheme. An IRF fabric uses member IDs to uniquely identify and
manage its members, and you must assign each IRF member switch a unique member ID.

Planning IRF topology and connections

Connect the IRF member switches through IRF ports, the logical interfaces for the connections between
IRF member switches. Each IRF member switch has two IRF ports: IRF-port 1 and IRF-port 2. To use an IRF
port, you must bind at least one physical port to it.
When connecting two neighboring IRF member switches, you must connect the physical ports of IRF-port
1 on one switch to the physical ports of IRF-port 2 on the other switch.
A two-member IRF fabric must use the daisy chain topology.
If the system software version you are using supports more than two IRF members, you can create an IRF
fabric that comprises more than two members in daisy chain topology or more reliable ring topology. In
ring topology, the failure of one IRF link does not cause the IRF fabric to split as in daisy chain topology.
Instead, the IRF fabric changes to a daisy chain topology without interrupting network services.

Identifying physical IRF ports on the member switches

Identify the physical IRF ports on the member switches according to your topology and connection
scheme.
On the switch, only 10-GE/40-GE ports can be used for IRF connection.
The switch supports multi-card link aggregation for IRF ports. You can bind up to eight physical ports to
one IRF port.

Installing IRF member switches

Step
1. Prepare the installation site.
2. Rack mount the IRF member switches.
3. Install modules on IRF member switches.

Configuring basic IRF settings

After you install the IRF member switches, power on the switches, and log in to each IRF member switch
(see "Connecting your switch to the
port bindings.
Follow these guidelines when you configure the switches:
network") to configure their member IDs, member priorities, and IRF
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Reference
Preparing for installation
Installing the switch
Installing FRUs