ESRP-Aware Switches

Extreme Networks switches that are not actively participating in ESRP (Extreme Standby Router Protocol) but are connected on a network that has other Extreme Networks switches running ESRP are ESRP-aware. When ESRP-aware switches are attached to ESRP-enabled switches, the ESRP-aware switches reliably perform failover and failback scenarios in the prescribed recovery times.

If Extreme Networks switches running ESRP are connected to Layer 2 switches that are manufactured by third-party vendors, the failover times for traffic local to that segment may appear longer, depending on the application involved and the FDB (forwarding database) timer used by the other vendor‘s Layer 2 switch. ESRP can be used with Layer 2 switches from other vendors, but the recovery times vary.

The VLAN (Virtual LAN)s associated with the ports connecting an ESRP-aware switch to an ESRP-enabled switch must be configured using an 802.1Q tag on the connecting port; or, if only a single VLAN is involved, as untagged using the protocol filter 'any.' ESRP does not function correctly if the ESRP-aware switch interconnection port is configured for a protocol-sensitive VLAN using untagged traffic. You can also use port restart in this scenario. For more information, see ESRP Port Restart.