High Availability; Introduction; Uplink Failure Detection - HP 438031-B21 - 1:10Gb Ethernet BL-c Switch Application Manual

High availability

Introduction

Switches support high availability network topologies. This release provides information about Uplink
Failure Detection and Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP).

Uplink Failure Detection

Uplink Failure Detection (UFD) is designed to support Network Adapter Teaming on HP server blades. For
details about Network Adapter Teaming on HP ProLiant server blades, see the white paper at the
following location:
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/networking/whitepapers.html
UFD allows the switch to monitor specific uplink ports to detect link failures. When the switch detects a link
failure, it automatically disables specific downlink ports. The corresponding server's network adapter can
detect the disabled downlink, and trigger a network-adapter failover to another port on the switch, or
another switch in the chassis.
The switch automatically enables the downlink ports when the uplink returns to service.
The following figure shows a basic UFD configuration, with a Failure Detection Pair (FDP) that consists of
one LtM (Link to Monitor) and one LtD (Link to Disable). When the switch detects a link failure in the LtM, it
disables the ports in the LtD. The server blade detects the disabled downlink port, which triggers a NIC
failover.
High availability
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