IRF/ARP-MAD configuration on A5120-SI

[LS1971]

Hi!

I'm searching for a HP document which specifies how to configure IRF + MAD on an A5120-SI. So far we have managed to create the following config:

#
 irf domain 20
 undo irf mac-address persistent
 irf auto-update enable
 undo irf link-delay
 irf member 1 priority 32
 irf member 2 priority 31
#
vlan 910
 name A5120switch_MAD
#
interface Bridge-Aggregation1
 description Link to A10500switch
 port link-type trunk
 undo port trunk permit vlan 1
 port trunk permit vlan 4 12 999
 dhcp-snooping trust
#
interface Vlan-interface910
 description A5120switch MAD
 ip address 10.98.0.1 255.255.255.0
 mad arp enable
#
interface GigabitEthernet1/0/48
 description A5120switch MAD Link
 port link-type trunk
 undo port trunk permit vlan 1
 port trunk permit vlan 910
#
interface GigabitEthernet1/0/52
 description Link to A10500switch
 port link-type trunk
 undo port trunk permit vlan 1
 port trunk permit vlan 4 12 999
 port link-aggregation group 1
#
interface GigabitEthernet2/0/48
 description A5120switch MAD Link
 port link-type trunk
 undo port trunk permit vlan 1
 port trunk permit vlan 910
#
interface GigabitEthernet2/0/52
 description Link to A10500switch
 port link-type trunk
 undo port trunk permit vlan 1
 port trunk permit vlan 4 12 999
 port link-aggregation group 1
#
irf-port 1/1
 port group interface GigabitEthernet1/0/49 mode normal
 port group interface GigabitEthernet1/0/50 mode normal
#
irf-port 2/2
 port group interface GigabitEthernet2/0/49 mode normal
 port group interface GigabitEthernet2/0/50 mode normal
#

Gi1/0/49+Gi1/0/50 and Gi2/0/49+Gi2/0/50 are the IRF links, Gi1/0/48+Gi2/0/48 are the links for ARP-MAD, Gi1/0/52+Gi2/0/52 are the up-links to our A10500 coreswitch. We're using Comware Version 5.20 Release 1505P07 on an A5120-48G SI switch.

Has any one already configured an IRF on an A5120-SI and could verify the above configuration please? Thanks!

Regards, Leonardo

[Paco_D]

Hey Leonardo,

Is your configuration working the way you have it configured now?

The reason I ask is that I am working a similar configuration on an A5820-24-X and from what I understand, You can configure  MAD across One gig links but for IRF you have to go with Ten Gig.

The config looks ok to me with the exception of the IRF interfaces not being Ten gig (assuming you have NOT done the following).

A bit of digging around shows that your 5120SL switch supports One gig IRF with a software upgrade.

1. A5120SI requires a software upgrade for IRF over Gig ports
2. Have you updated the switches?
3. Stupid question, have you rebooted them after saving the config?
4. Does your display irf show that the links are up?

Would love to see your working config on one gig links!

Good luck!

best,

P

[LS1971]

Hi Paco_D,

yes, the IRF is working. We checked an IRF disconnect to test the configured ARP MAD over port 48 of both member switches. But we are not sure if the configuration we created follows the HP design. We don't want to run into any issues that could cause network problems. We're building up a new network infrastructure to replace a Cisco network infrastructure.

To your questions: the A5120-SI is the only switch which can build the IRF using any port. There is an Installation Guide for 5120-EI/SI switches. This guide shows how an IRF is built physically, but not the configuration for it. The software installed on the switches is the latest available (Comware Version 5.20 Release 1505P07). Here's the output of a

<Switch>display irf topology

                           Topology Info
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
               IRF-Port1                IRF-Port2
 Switch    Link       neighbor      Link       neighbor    Belong To
 2         DIS        --            UP         1           b8af-673f-331e
 1         UP         2             DIS        --          b8af-673f-331e

Regards, Leonardo

[Paco_D]

Hey Leonardo,

Attached is what I used to successfully configure and test a small environment collaped core/distribution setup for one of my customers.

I surmise that you could just trade out the 10G interfaces for 1G in the config.

The more valuable information however would be the test criteria based on your questions.

Hope it helps,

Best,

Paco

[Paco_D]

Note that I recognize that this may not be your exact application. It was not mine either. However, I had (like you) no choice but to assemble information from as many sources as I could.

This doc along with the other basic LAB docs i could find got me there and tested.

Let me know how you make out.

Best,

P

[LS1971]

I've attached a network diagram for better understanding of the configuration.

[pombeii]

I would recommend this IRF MAD-dedicated document: http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c03014400/c03014400.pdf

Even though it is for 5820&5820X, I think the configuration procedures are quite similar.

Hope it helps.

[Paco_D]

Looks straight forward enough.

We used BFD MAD as opposed to ARP, tested it yesterday successfully with ZERO packet loss.

I went with BFD/MAD because I did not want to do the intermediate switch approach. Since the whole idea of using IRF was to get around having to use spanning tree, I chose not to do the ARP method as it required STP/MSTP to be configured.

It also appeared to me that if I used ARP/MAD that I would not be able to use both LACP links to the other switches. I do not know that definitively; but since spanning tree by its nature does not allow two links to be up simultaneously (and there was not alot of information to dispute this in the instance of ARP/MAD), I chose to go with BFD/MAD.

What was your thinking with going in that direction? Just curious...

The document for the A5800-A5800 posted here by pombeii is also something I used and is excellent. I liked the  Virtual Connect and HP A-Series document because it provided me a mechanism by which to test the configuration which was an immediatley gratifying benefit to the customer.

Thanks,

P

[Paco_D]

Another thing...

Most of the configuration examples that I saw in the past did not use the same ports on the member switches.

For eg.:

• Member 1 IRF-Port 1= INT 1
• Member 2 IRF-Port 2=INT 2
• Member 1 IRF-Port 2= INT 3
• Member 2 IRF-Port 1= INT 4

Since I only used one link for my test case, I did not have to contend with this. I am not certain however why they would not configure them as you have. Its what I would have done.

If someone knows different, then I would like to know.

Thanks,

P

[C0LDWiR3D]

Why not use more links for IRF ? (LAG)

Since you can use copper I guess the 5120 are not so far apart.

Do they not support LAG for IRF like the other switches do ?

5120EI does.

With more links split-brain should not be that big a problem with only 2 switches in IRF.

I suppose you can use MAD LACP as well as the 10500 supports it (comware prioritary) if you want to save ports used.

Cheers