Single Ip Management (Sim) Overview - D-Link xStack DGS-3426 User Manual

xStack DGS-3400 Series Layer 2 Gigabit Ethernet Managed Switch

Single IP Management (SIM) Overview

Simply put, D-Link Single IP Management is a concept that will stack switches together over Ethernet instead of using stacking
ports or modules. There are some advantages in implementing the "Single IP Management" feature:
1. SIM can simplify management of small workgroups or wiring closets while scaling the network to handle increased
bandwidth demand.
2. SIM can reduce the number of IP address needed in your network.
3. SIM can eliminate any specialized cables for stacking connectivity and remove the distance barriers that typically limit
your topology options when using other stacking technology.
Switches using D-Link Single IP Management (labeled here as SIM) must conform to the following rules:
•
SIM is an optional feature on the Switch and can easily be enabled or disabled through the Command Line Interface or
Web Interface. SIM grouping has no effect on the normal operation of the Switch in the user's network.
•
There are three classifications for switches using SIM. The Commander Switch (CS), which is the master switch of the
group. Member Switch (MS), which is a switch that is recognized by the CS, which is a member of a SIM group.
Candidate Switch (CaS), which is a Switch that has a physical link to the SIM group but has not been recognized by the
CS as a member of the SIM group.
•
A SIM group can only have one Commander Switch (CS).
•
All switches in a particular SIM group must be in the same IP subnet (broadcast domain). Members of a SIM group
cannot cross a router.
•
A SIM group accepts up to 32 switches (numbered 1-32), not including the Commander Switch (numbered 0).
•
There is no limit to the number of SIM groups in the same IP subnet (broadcast domain), however a single switch can
only belong to one group.
•
If multiple VLANs are configured, the SIM group will only utilize the Management VLAN on any switch.
•
SIM allows intermediate devices that do not support SIM. This enables the user to manage switches that are more than
one hop away from the CS.
The SIM group is a group of switches that are managed as a single entity. The xStack DGS-3400 Series switch may take on three
different roles:
1. Commander Switch (CS) - This is a switch that has been manually configured as the controlling device for a group, and
takes on the following characteristics:
•
It has an IP Address.
•
It is not a command switch or member switch of another Single IP group.
•
It is connected to the member switches through its management VLAN.
2. Member Switch (MS) - This is a switch that has joined a single IP group and is accessible from the CS, and it takes on
the following characteristics:
•
It is not a CS or MS of another IP group.
•
It is connected to the CS through the CS management VLAN.
3. Candidate Switch (CaS) - This is a switch that is ready to join a SIM group but is not yet a member of the SIM group.
The Candidate Switch may join the SIM group of the xStack DGS-3400 Series switch by manually configuring it to be a
MS of a SIM group. A switch configured as a CaS is not a member of a SIM group and will take on the following
characteristics:
•
It is not a CS or MS of another Single IP group.
•
It is connected to the CS through the CS management VLAN
The following rules also apply to the above roles:
•
Each device begins in a Candidate state.
•
CSs must change their role to CaS and then to MS, to become a MS of a SIM group. Thus, the CS cannot directly be
converted to a MS.
•
The user can manually configure a CS to become a CaS.
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