ESF Configuration Using CLI

Before starting the configuration process, make sure both switches have the same software version installed. To check the software version, run the "show version" command in the CLI.

It is recommended to upgrade both switches to the latest software release.

Run the following commands on both switches:

1. Enable LACP (required for the IPL):

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   sx01 (config) # lacp
           

2. Turn off spanning tree using this command (only if using version v3.6.6102 or earlier)

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   sx01 (config) # no spanning-tree
           

3. Enable IP routing:

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   sx01 (config) # ip routing
           

4. Enable MLAG protocol:

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   sx01 (config) # protocol mlag
           

5. Enable QoS globally:

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   sx01 (config) # dcb priority-flow-control enable force
           

Control traffic for the MLAG is sent over the IPL ports via a L3 interface (interface VLAN).
For high availability, it is recommended to have more than one physical link serving as the IPL, therefore the IPL is configured over LAG (port-channel).
It is recommended to use a VLAN ID that is not used within the subnet (4000 in this example) to avoid mixing the host traffic with the control traffic on this interface.
All VLANs are open on the IPL port. There is no need to configure this port, once an interface is mapped as “IPL”, all VLANs are open on this port.
In this example, ports 1/35 and 1/36 are used for the IPL connectivity between the switches.
The IPL link may pass traffic upon MLAG port failures, but not under normal circumstances when all ports are in UP state.

Run the following commands on both switches:

            

            
sx01 (config) # interface port-channel 1
sx01 (config interface port-channel 1 ) # exit
sx01 (config) # interface ethernet 1/35 channel-group 1 mode active
sx01 (config) # interface ethernet 1/36 channel-group 1 mode active
sx01 (config) # vlan 4000
sx01 (config vlan 4000) # exit
sx01 (config) # interface vlan 4000
sx01 (config interface vlan 4000 ) # exit
sx01 (config) # interface port-channel 1 ipl 1
sx01 (config) # interface port-channel 1 dcb priority-flow-control mode on force
        

Configure IP address for the IPL link on both switches

1. Configure the following on one switch (e.g. sx01):

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   sx01 (config) # interface vlan 4000
   sx01 (config interface vlan 4000) # ip address 10.10.10.1 255.255.255.0
   sx01 (config interface vlan 4000) # ipl 1 peer-address 10.10.10.2
           

2. Configure the following on the second switch (e.g. sx02):

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   sx02 (config) # interface vlan 4000
   sx02 (config interface vlan 4000) # ip address 10.10.10.2 255.255.255.0
   sx02 (config interface vlan 4000) # ipl 1 peer-address 10.10.10.1
           

The IPL IP address should not be part of the management network, it could be any IP address and subnet that is not in use in the network. This address is not advertised outside the switch