Irf Split; Irf Merge; Member Priority; Master Election - HP 12500 SERIES Configuration Manual

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
routing and forwarding problems on the network.
To avoid a card removal causing an IRF split, bind physical ports on different cards to an IRF port.
Figure 5 IRF split

IRF merge

IRF merge occurs when split IRF fabrics re-unite or when two independent IRF fabrics are united, as
shown in Figure
Figure 6 IRF merge
IRF 1
Device A

Member priority

Member priority determines the possibility of a member device to be elected the master. A member
with higher priority is more likely to be elected the master.
The default member priority is 1. You can change the member priority of a device to affect the
master election result.

Master election

Master election is held each time the IRF fabric topology changes, for example, when the IRF fabric
is established, the master device fails or is removed, the IRF fabric splits, or two active IRF fabrics
merge.
Master election uses the following rules in descending order:
Current master, even if a new member has higher priority.
1.
When an IRF fabric is being formed, all member devices consider themselves as the master,
and this rule is skipped.
Member with higher priority.
2.
Member with the longest system uptime.
3.
Figure 5. The split IRF fabrics operate with the same IP address and cause
6.
IRF 2
+ =
Device B
IRF
XGE1/3/0/1
XGE2/3/0/1
IRF link
Device A
7
Device B