Allied Telesis AlliedWare Plus Operating System Version 5.4.4C (x310-26FT,x310-26FP,x310-50FT,x310-50FP) - Manual (Page 1548)

AMF Introduction and Configuration
Software Reference for x310 Series Switches
59.4 AlliedWare Plus TM Operating System - Version 5.4.4C C613-50046-01 REV A
AMF Terminology
This section contains a glossary of terminology used to describe AMF networking.
Network name The AMF network name is used to determine the AMF network a node belongs to. All
nodes within an AMF network must be configured with the same AMF name.
Node AMF members are commonly referred to as nodes. A node can be a single switch, or a
VCStack.
Master nodes AMF master nodes are user defined and form the core domain of the AMF network. They
are:
■ responsible for performing file system backups of all nodes in the AMF network.
■ required before an AMF network can form; at least one must be present.
AMF master nodes are supported on SBx908, SBx8100 and x610 platforms; an AMF license
is required for each master. Only one AMF master license is required even if two CFCs -
Controller Fabric Cards (SBx8100 only) are installed. The license is for the chassis, not the
CFC.
■ Where more than one AMF master node exists in an AMF network, it is important to
note that each master operates completely independently of the other, and that there
is no synchronization between them.
■ multiple master nodes can be used to provide master-node redundancy. with each
master being able to operate as a master node for the network. But, there is no
synchronization of status or data files between the masters. The behavior of a master
node is not changed at all by the presence of other master nodes. However where a
backup up config is to be loaded to a switch, and the config versions differ between
AMF masters, the most recent version of the config will be selected for downloading.
Network name The AMF network name is used to identify the AMF network to which a node belongs.
therefore all nodes within a single AMF network must be configured with the same AMF
name.
Node AMF members are commonly referred to as nodes. A node can be either a single switch, or
a VCStack.
Master nodes AMF master nodes are user defined by configuration. They then form the core domain of
the AMF network. Aspects of master node functionality include:
■ responsibility for performing file system backups of all nodes in the AMF network.
■ an essential requirement for the formation of an AMF network. That is, at least one
master node must be present for an AMF network to exist.
Note Although AMF regards a VCStack as a single AMF device; the VCStack must have
consistent licensing on all stack members. Therefore, in a VCStack containing
two switches; two AMF master licenses would be required for the stack to
operate as an AMF master.