Requirements for Active-Passive
To configure Active-Passive:
Both NICs should be enabled.
NICs should be connected to separate switches.
Which physical interface is preferred
When the Active-Passive bond is created, if both NICs are plugged in, the SAN/iQ software
interface becomes the active interface. The other interface is Passive (Ready).
For example, if Motherboard:Port1 is the preferred interface, it will be active and Motherboard:Port2
will be Passive (Ready). Then, if Motherboard:Port1 fails, Motherboard:Port2 changes from Passive
(Ready) to active. Motherboard:Port1 changes to Passive (Failed).
Once the link is fixed and Motherboard:Port1 is operational, there is a 30–second delay and then
Motherboard:Port1 becomes the active interface. Motherboard:Port2 returns to the Passive (Ready)
state.
NOTE:
When the active interface comes back up, there is a 30–second delay before it becomes
active.
Table 19 Example Active-Passive failover scenario and corresponding NIC status
Example failover scenario
1. Active-Passive bond0 is created. The active (preferred)
interface is Motherboard:Port1.
2. Active interface fails. Bond0 detects the failure and
Motherboard:Port2 takes over.
3. The Motherboard:Port1 link is restored.
Summary of NIC status during failover
shows the states of Motherboard:Port1 and Motherboard:Port2 when configured for Active-Passive.
Table 20 NIC status during failover with Active-Passive
Failover status
Normal Operation
Motherboard:Port1 Fails, Data
Transfer Fails Over to
Motherboard:Port2
Motherboard:Port1 Restored
NIC status
Bond0 is the master logical interface.
Motherboard:Port1 is Active.
Motherboard:Port2 is connected and is Passive (Ready).
Motherboard:Port1 status becomes Passive (Failed).
Motherboard:Port2 status changes to Active.
Motherboard:Port1 status changes to Active after a 30
second delay.
Motherboard:Port2 status changes to Passive (Ready).
Status of Eth0
Preferred: Yes
Status: Active
Data Transfer: Yes
Preferred: Yes
Status: Passive (Failed)
Data Transfer: No
Preferred: Yes
Status: Active
Data Transfer: Yes
Status of Motherboard:Port2
Preferred: No
Status: Passive (Ready)
Data Transfer: No
Preferred: No
Status: Active
Data Transfer: Yes
Preferred: No
Status: Passive (Ready)
Data Transfer: No
Configuring network interface bonds
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