Introduction

1.1 Description
Ethernet Switch Protection provides protection of the Ethernet switch function in
the NPU of a MINI-LINK TN that has two NPU1 C, or two NPU1 D, or two NPU3
C, or two NPU3 D, or combined one NPU3 C and one NPU3 D plug-in units.

The two NPUs are in a protective configuration with one NPU in the primary
slot and one NPU in the secondary slot, see Recommendations for Positioning
of Plug-In Units, Reference [10]. The NPU in the primary slot handles the
control functions of the system and provides management and traffic interfaces,
including the protected interfaces. The NPU in the secondary slot handles no
control function and provides no management interface.

If Ethernet Switch Protection is turned on, the NPU in the secondary slot has
the active Ethernet switch, when it is able to do so, and the NPU in the primary
slot has the passive Ethernet switch. Both NPUs receive and transmit data
through their front ports, but only the active Ethernet switch transmits data to
other active plug-in units. In case of a fault on the NPU in the secondary slot,
the NPU in the primary slot activates its own Ethernet switch. The change of
the active Ethernet switch interrupts the traffic. After the takeover, it is possible
to repair or replace the faulty NPU without further traffic interruption. Restoring
Ethernet Switch Protection interrupts the traffic again.

Note: The front ports of the NPUs are not protected by Ethernet Switch
Protection, but can be protected in a 2+0 configuration with LAG or in a
1+1 configuration with RSTP or MSTP.

Besides the protection feature, installing two NPUs in the Access Module
Magazine (AMM) provides additional front ports. For number of additional
front ports and total number of switch ports available with two NPUs installed,
see Table 1.

Table 1 Number of Front Ports and Switch Ports Available with Two NPUs
Installed
NPU Additional Total number of Number of
front ports switch ports available switch
(1)
ports
NPU1 C 4 29 20
NPU1 D 5 31 20
NPU3 C 2 12 7
NPU3 D 2 12 7
(1) Available for connection to WAN or backplane LAN interfaces.

The switch port numbers are used as reference, that is, they are logical entities
without any relations to hardware ports. Instead the physical interfaces are
represented as LAN or WAN ports in Craft. Any switch port number can be
set to refer to any physical interface.

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 Configuring Ethernet Switch Protection

1.2 Planning Advice

To ensure proper node and network function, all configuration activities must be
planned in advance by skilled personnel.

Before configuring Ethernet Switch Protection, consider the following planning

advice:

1. For instructions on positioning the plug-in units in the AMMs, see

Recommendations for Positioning of Plug-In Units, Reference [10].

1.3 Limitations
This document only describes how to configure Ethernet Switch Protection and
tasks related to this. For information on how to configure the Ethernet switch,
see Configuring an Ethernet Layer 2 Connection, Reference [4].

Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is only supported with one NPU
installed in the NE, that is, LACP is not available when the NE is prepared for
Ethernet Switch Protection.

The recommended time-out period for aging of dynamically-learned forwarding

information is at least 70 seconds in case the following are used in combination:

• Ethernet Switch Protection

• A LAG where the switch ports in the LAG are located on different NPUs

• Destination Look-Up Failure (DLF) storm protection is enabled for the

switch ports in the LAG

The time-out period is set either on the Ethernet Switch - Configure

Protection page in MINI-LINK Craft or using the command bridge
tp-agingtime.

In single NPU1 D configuration, both 10 Gbps slots can be used and the
maximum capacity is a total of 20 Gbps.

In Ethernet Switch Protection with two NPU1 Ds, the maximum capacity is
30 Gbps with 10 Gbps protected traffic capacity using the front LAN ports of
both NPUs. This is due to a 10 Gbps limitation of data transfer between ports
on the passive NPU1 D 10 Gbps ports to the switch in the active NPU1 D.

Note: When using Ethernet Switch Protection, no NPU front ports for E1/DS1,
User I/O, or Sync on the secondary NPU can be used. Only the
Ethernet switch is protected and only the front LAN ports are active.

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 Prerequisites

2 Prerequisites

This section includes information about required preparation before configuring

Ethernet Switch Protection.

2.1 Safety Information

Make sure that the information in the following documents has been understood
by the persons performing the procedures:
• Personal Health and Safety Information, Reference [8]
• System Safety Information, Reference [12]
• Supplementary Safety Information for MINI-LINK, Reference [11]

2.2 Required Hardware

The node must be equipped with one of the following AMMs:

• AMM 2p B

• AMM 20p B

• AMM 6p C/D

The node must be equipped with one of the following combinations of NPUs:

• Two NPU1 C

• Two NPU1 D

• Two NPU3 C

• Two NPU3 D

• One NPU3 C and one NPU3 D

Note: Make sure that both NPUs have SW version R5 or later.

When Ethernet Switch Protection is configured using two NPU3 C or one NPU3
C and one NPU3 D, make sure to have the correct revisions of the NPU3 C/D.
For detailed information, see Table 2 for NPU3 C/D installed in an AMM 2p B,
Table 3 for NPU3 C/D installed in an AMM 6p C, and Table 4 for NPU3 C/D
installed in an AMM 6p D.

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 Configuring Ethernet Switch Protection

Table 2 Accepted Configurations of NPU3 C/D with Different Revisions in

an AMM 2p B
Revision of NPU3 C installed Revision of NPU3
(1)
in the primary slot D installed in the
(1)
AMM 2p B primary slot
R1A R1B R1C or R1A or later
later
Revision R1A Not OK Not OK Not OK Not OK
of NPU3 C
R1B Not OK Not OK OK OK
installed
in the R1C or OK OK OK OK
seconda later
(1)
ry slot
Revision R1A or OK OK OK OK
of NPU3 D later
installed
in the
seconda
(1)
ry slot
(1) For more information about primary and secondary slots, see Recommendations for
Positioning of Plug-In Units, Reference [10]

Table 3 Accepted Configurations of NPU3 C/D with Different Revisions in

an AMM 6p C
Revision of NPU3 C installed Revision of NPU3
(1)
in the primary slot D installed in the
(1)
AMM 6p C primary slot
R1A R1B R1C or R1A or later
later
Revision R1A Not OK Not OK Not OK Not OK
of NPU3 C
R1B OK OK OK OK
installed
in the R1C or OK OK OK OK
seconda later
(1)
ry slot
Revision R1A or OK OK OK OK
of NPU3 D later
installed
in the
seconda
(1)
ry slot
(1) For more information about primary and secondary slots, see Recommendations for
Positioning of Plug-In Units, Reference [10]

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 Prerequisites

Table 4 Accepted Configurations of NPU3 C/D with Different Revisions in

an AMM 6p D
Revision of NPU3 C installed Revision of NPU3
(1)
in the primary slot D installed in the
(1)
AMM 6p D primary slot
R1A R1B R1C or R1A or later
later
Revision R1A Not OK Not OK Not OK Not OK
of NPU3 C
R1B Not OK Not OK OK OK
installed
in the R1C or OK OK OK OK
seconda later
(1)
ry slot
Revision R1A or OK OK OK OK
of NPU3 D later
installed
in the
seconda
(1)
ry slot
(1) For more information about primary and secondary slots, see Recommendations for
Positioning of Plug-In Units, Reference [10]

Note: The first ever start of a new NPU is highly recommended in the primary
slot. If a factory new NPU is inserted in the secondary slot and it
was not started before, a cold restart of the NPU must be manually
performed after the initial startup to ensure the correct behavior of
Ethernet Switch Protection.

2.3 Required Licenses and Software

Ethernet Switch Protection is a basic feature. No license is required. MINI-LINK
TN R5 and later supports Ethernet Switch Protection. See the compatibility
document in the Planning folder for information about required software version.

To access an NE remotely through MINI-LINK Craft, a MINI-LINK Craft license

is required on that specific NE.

2.4 Required Documentation

Read through this document. Make sure that referenced documentation is
available during the configuration process by having the electronic CPI library
available on your PC. See Library Description, Reference [5] for information
about how to make the CPI library available.

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