Software Features; High Availability - Cisco DS-C9216I-K9 Configuration Manual

Software Features

Software Features
This section provides an overview of the major software features of the Cisco MDS 9000 Family of
multilayer directors and fabric switches.
Licensing
The licensing functionality is available in all switches in the Cisco MDS 9000 Family. This functionality
allows you to access specified premium features on the switch after you install the appropriate license
for that feature. Licenses are sold, supported, and enforced from Release 1.3(1).

High Availability

The Cisco MDS 9500 Series of multilayer directors support application restartability and nondisruptive
supervisor switchability. The switches are protected from system failure by redundant hardware
components and a high availability software framework. The high availability (HA) software framework
includes the following:
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Switch Reliability
Switches in the Cisco MDS 9000 Family maintain internally controlled reliability services that ensure
continued service with no degradation. This reliability service includes the following:
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Cisco MDS 9000 Fabric Manager Switch Configuration Guide
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Provides stateful redundancy for supervisor module failure by using dual supervisor modules.
Ensures nondisruptive software upgrade capability.
Protects against link failure using the PortChannel (port aggregation) feature. This feature is also
available in Cisco MDS 9216 switches and in the Cisco MDS 9100 Series.
Provides management redundancy using Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP). This feature
is also available in Cisco MDS 9216 switches and in the Cisco MDS 9100 Series.
Performs nondisruptive restarts of a failed process on the same supervisor module. A service
running on the supervisor modules and on the switching module tracks the HA policy defined in the
configuration and takes action based on this policy. This feature is also available in Cisco MDS 9216
switches and in the Cisco MDS 9100 Series.
Provides power-on self testing (POST)
Detects errors, isolates faults, performs parity checking, and checks illegal addresses
Enables remote diagnostics using Call Home troubleshooting features
Displays LEDs that summarize the status of each switching module, supervisor module, power
supply, and fan assembly
Chapter 1 Product Overview
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