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Planning a Switched Network
Auto Mode
Feeder Mode
2-16
The link that connects LattisSpan feeder ports is a LattisSpan feeder link.
The feeder link carries traffic for a single virtual LAN. Feeder ports learn the
addresses of all end stations on the segment connected to the port; therefore,
connectivity is provided to the end stations on that segment.
When a feeder link is used to connect two switches, only the network traffic is
carried between the two switches (the connected switches do not share global
station MAC address information). A single switch community is not formed
when two switches are connected by a feeder link.
In auto mode, a switch port uses the LattisSpan trunk detection process to
automatically configure the port as a trunk port or a feeder port. When a switch
is connected to another switch, the connecting ports are automatically
designated as trunk ports. A port that is connected to an end station or Ethernet
segment is automatically designated as an active feeder port (if there are no
additional switches connected to the segment).
When switch ports are configured to operate in feeder mode, the switch uses
the LattisSpan forced feeder detection process to configure ports automatically
as active feeder ports or standby feeder ports. This process enables the switch
to select, per community, one active feeder among ports of the same virtual
LAN that are connected to the same Ethernet segment. The active feeder port
learns the MAC addresses of the devices communicating on the segment and
carries network traffic.
Additional feeder ports in the same community that are connected to the same
Ethernet segment where an active feeder port is connected are designated
standby feeder ports. Standby feeder ports do not learn MAC addresses of the
devices on the segment. A standby feeder port takes over communications upon
the failure of an active feeder port within a 10-second time frame.
This configuration allows port-level and switch-level redundancy within single
or multiple switch communities (see
on
page 18
for example redundant switch connection configurations).
"Redundant Feeder Link
Configurations"
893-00965-A
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