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6-19

Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch Software Configuration Guide

78-11194-09

Chapter 6 Clustering Switches

Creating a Switch Cluster

Using CMS to create a cluster is easier than using the CLI commands. This section provides this

information:

• Enabling a Command Switch, page 6-19

• Adding Member Switches, page 6-20

• Creating a Cluster Standby Group, page 6-22

• Verifying a Switch Cluster, page 6-24

This section assumes you have already cabled the switches, as described in the switch hardware

installation guide, and followed the guidelines described in the “Planning a Switch Cluster” section on

page 6-5.

Note Refer to the release notes for the list of Catalyst switches eligible for switch clustering, including which

ones can be command switches and which ones can only be member switches, for the required software

versions, and for the browser and Java plug-in configurations.

Enabling a Command Switch

The switch you designate as the command switch must meet the requirements described in the

“Command Switch Characteristics” section on page 6-3, the “Planning a Switch Cluster” section on

page 6-5, and the release notes.

We strongly recommend that the highest-end, command-capable switch in the cluster be the command

switch:

• If your switch cluster has a Catalyst 3550 switch, that switch should be the command switch.

• If your switch cluster has Catalyst 2900 XL, Catalyst 2940, Catalyst 2950, Catalyst 2950 LRE,

Catalyst 2955, and Catalyst 3500 XL switches, the Catalyst 2950 or Catalyst 2955 switch should be

the command switch.

• If your switch cluster has Catalyst 1900, Catalyst 2820, Catalyst 2900 XL, and Catalyst 3500 XL

switches, either the Catalyst 2900 XL or Catalyst 3500 XL switch should be the command switch.

You can enable a command switch, name the cluster, and assign an IP address and a password to the

command switch when you run the setup program during initial switch setup. For information about

using the setup program, refer to the release notes.

If you did not enable a command switch during initial switch setup, launch Device Manager from a

command-capable switch, and select Cluster > Create Cluster. Enter a cluster number (the default is 0),

and use up to 31 characters to name the cluster (Figure 6-10). Instead of using CMS to enable a

command switch, you can use the cluster enable global configuration command.

Cisco Catalyst 3550 Series User Manual

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