Second-level virtual interfaces on a single filer

Why use second-level virtual interfaces on a single filer

You use second-level virtual interfaces on a single filer to maintain service even if a switch fails.

Example of a second-level virtual interface on a single filer

A subnetwork has two switches that are capable of trunking over multiple port connections. The filer has a two-link multiple-mode trunk to one switch and a two-link multiple-mode trunk to the second switch. You can create a second-level trunking single mode that contains both of the multiple-mode trunks. When the second-level trunk is configured using the na_ifconfig(1) command, only one of the two multiple-mode trunks is brought up as the active link. If all the underlying interfaces in the active trunk fail, the second-level trunk activates the link corresponding to the other trunk.

In the preceding figure, Secondlev is the second-level virtual interface and is composed of the two virtual interfaces Firstlev1 and Firstlev2. Firstlev1 is initially the active interface; if Switch 1 drops both links, Switch2 and Firstlev2 take over and maintain the connection to the network.


Copyright © 1999, Network Appliance, Inc. All rights reserved.

Part No. 210-02334
File: net11.htm
Last updated: 04/26/99 08:11:18