Dell PowerEdge FN I/O Module Configuration Guide 9.10(0.0)

You can configure up to 255 rings on a system. FRRP uses one Master node and multiple Transit nodes in each ring. There is no limit to the number of nodes on a ring. The Master node is responsible for the intelligence of the Ring and monitors the status of the Ring. The Master node checks the status of the Ring by sending ring health frames (RHF) around the Ring from its Primary port and returning on its Secondary port. If the Master node misses three consecutive RHFs, the Master node determines the ring to be in a failed state. The Master then sends a Topology Change RHF to the Transit Nodes informing them that the ring has changed. This causes the Transit Nodes to flush their forwarding tables, and re-converge to the new network structure.

One port of the Master node is designated the Primary port (P) to the ring; another port is designated as the Secondary port (S) to the ring. In normal operation, the Master node blocks the Secondary port for all non-control traffic belonging to this FRRP group, thereby avoiding a loop in the ring, like STP. Layer 2 switching and learning mechanisms operate per existing standards on this ring.

Each Transit node is also configured with a Primary port and a Secondary port on the ring, but the port distinction is ignored as long as the node is configured as a Transit node. If the ring is complete, the Master node logically blocks all data traffic in the transmit and receive directions on the Secondary port to prevent a loop. If the Master node detects a break in the ring, it unblocks its Secondary port and allows data traffic to be transmitted and received through it. Refer to the following illustration for a simple example of this FRRP topology. Note that ring direction is determined by the Master node’s Primary and Secondary ports.

A virtual LAN (VLAN) is configured on all node ports in the ring. All ring ports must be members of the Member VLAN and the Control VLAN.

The Member VLAN is the VLAN used to transmit data as described earlier.

The Control VLAN is used to perform the health checks on the ring. The Control VLAN can always pass through all ports in the ring, including the secondary port of the Master node.