Configuring dedicated and standby interfaces

Prerequisites for configuring interfaces

To configure a pair of interfaces so that the standby interface can replace a dedicated interface on the partner filer in a cluster, you must have the following items available:

Four single MAC-address interfaces or ATM adapter interfaces, two on each filer in the cluster
Two IP addresses or ATM interface names, the address of one interface or ATM interface name on each filer in the cluster

Rules for configuring interfaces

Keep these rules in mind when configuring interfaces:

You can use interface names for specifying all interfaces.
You cannot use IP addresses when specifying ATM interfaces for LANE and virtual interfaces.

Configuring interfaces for takeover

To configure a pair of interfaces for takeover, complete the following steps.

Step	Action
1	Enter the following command on the command line and also enter it in the /etc/rc file of the filer with the dedicated local interface, so that the command is permanent: ifconfig interface address interface is the name of the dedicated local interface. address is the IP address or ATM interface name of the dedicated local interface.
2	Enter the following command on the command line and in the /etc/rc file of the filer you used in Step 1 of this procedure: ifconfig interface partner address interface is the interface name of the standby interface. address is the IP address or ATM interface name of the dedicated interface of the other filer in the cluster. Note You cannot use IP addresses when specifying ATM interfaces for LANE and virtual interfaces.
3	Enter the following command on the command line and in the /etc/rc file of the other filer in the cluster: ifconfig interface address interface is the interface name of the dedicated local interface. address is the IP address of the dedicated local interface.
4	Enter the following command on the command line and in the /etc/rc file of the other filer in the cluster: ifconfig interface partner address interface is the name of the standby interface. address is the IP address or ATM interface name of the dedicated interface in Step 1. Note You cannot use IP addresses when specifying ATM interfaces for LANE and virtual interfaces. For detailed information on configuring ATM interfaces, see the ATM configuration chapter in the Network Management Guide.

Takeover configuration with dedicated and hot standby interfaces

In the following configuration illustration, you use two network cards for each interface. Each card can use only one MAC address. One card acts as a dedicated interface and the other acts as a hot standby interface.

If Filer 1 fails, the following occurs on takeover:

Interface e0 on Filer 1 stops functioning, but e0 on Filer 2 substitutes for the failed interface and handles the Filer 1 network connection with the 230 network.
Interface e2 on Filer 1 stops functioning, but e2 on Filer 2 substitutes for the failed interface and handles the Filer 1 network connection with the 223 network.

If Filer 2 fails, e1 on Filer 2 stops functioning, but e1 on Filer 1 substitutes for the failed interface and handles the Filer 2 network connection with the 230 network.