Cluster Builder

Cluster Builder shows a network map of all cluster members and any candidates one hop away from the cluster. Cluster Builder periodically polls the command switch for updates and redisplays the network map when devices are removed or added.

With this page, you can:

• Hide and display candidates.
• Add a device to the cluster.
• Change a host name.
• Remove a device from the cluster.
• Arrange and save the device layout.
• Change user settings.
• Display address and port connection information or host names.
• Display a report of the entire cluster interconnections.
• Display device reports and graphs.
• Display link graphs.
• Display Cluster Manager.
• Display Cluster View.
• Launch the Cisco Visual Switch Manager or device web page to further configure a device.

For more information about Cluster Builder, review how to access device and link pop-up menus, page button descriptions, and device labels and color coding.

Hiding and Displaying Candidates

By default, Cluster Builder displays the command switch, cluster members, and cluster candidates.

To hide candidates:

1. Right-click on a cluster member that has connected candidates.
2. From the pop-up menu, click Hide Candidates.
   Note: If the cluster member does not have a connected candidate, this menu option is not available.
   The connected candidates are no longer displayed.

To display candidates:

1. Right-click on a cluster member.
2. From the pop-up menu, click Show Candidates.
   Note: If the cluster member does not have a connected candidate, this menu option is not available.
   The connected candidates are displayed on the map.

Adding a Device to the Cluster

A cluster can include a maximum of 16 switches: one command switch and 15 member switches. You can add devices to a cluster after you assign an IP address to the command switch and connect it to other devices running clustering software. If the command switch feature is not enabled on the command switch, you must enable it before building the cluster (you can enable it by using CVSM).

To add a device to the cluster:

1. Right-click on a candidate (device with a blue label).
2. From the pop-up menu, select Add to Cluster.
   Note: Once the maximum allowed devices are added to the cluster, the Add to Cluster menu option is disabled (grayed out) on all candidates until a cluster member is removed.
3. Enter the password, if prompted.
   If the device was configured with a password (even if the password is the same as the command switch or cluster member), the software prompts you for it before adding it to the cluster. If the device has no password, the software automatically adds the device to the cluster.
   Note: The Save Config feature does not purge member information when switches are removed from a cluster. So if you previously added this switch to and removed it from a saved configuration, Cluster Builder may not prompt for a password.

When the device is added, its label turns green.

Changing a Host Name

If you did not assign a host name to the command switch prior to launching Cluster Builder, it is assigned a default host name of "Switch." Any unnamed members are assigned the name "Switch" and a number (such as Switch-1) that indicates the order in which the device was added. If the cluster member already has an assigned host name, the name is retained and displayed on the page when you launch Cluster Builder.

To change a host name:

1. Right-click on a cluster member or command switch.
   Note: You cannot change the host name of a candidate device.
2. From the pop-up menu, select Host Name Config.
   The Enter Host Name page appears.
3. In the Enter Host Name field, enter a unique name for the device.
   Note: On a command switch, the maximum length of the host name is 28 characters; on member switches, the maximum length is 31 characters. Do not use "-N" (where N is a number) as the last characters in host names for any switch.
4. Click OK.
   The map is redisplayed with the new name shown for the device.
5. Click Save Config.
   Note: Catalyst 1900 and 2820 switches automatically save configuration changes to nonvolatile memory, so this step is not required. Allow approximately one minute for changes to be saved to non-volatile memory before resetting or turning off the switch.

Removing a Device from the Cluster

To remove a device from the cluster:

1. Right-click on a cluster member (device with a green label).
2. From the pop-up menu, select Remove from Cluster.
   When the device is removed, its label turns blue.
   Note: If you remove a member that has downstream members connected to it and the software does not have enough information to draw these members on the map, the downstream members are displayed as orphan devices in the upper left area of Cluster Builder. These orphan devices are cluster members, and you can still configure them.
3. Click Save Config.
   Note: Catalyst 1900 and 2820 switches automatically save configuration changes to nonvolatile memory, so this step is not required. Allow approximately one minute for changes to be saved to nonvolatile memory before resetting or turning off the switch.

Arranging and Saving the Device Layout

Before arranging and saving the layout, make sure Cluster Builder discovers or you manually add all devices to the cluster that you want to manage.

To arrange and save the device layout:

1. Click and hold the left mouse button on a cluster member and drag it to a new location on the network map.
   Note: You cannot move the command switch.
2. Click Save Layout.
   When you relaunch Cluster Builder, it displays the saved version of the layout unless the topology has changed. If a topology change has occurred, you must arrange the devices again and click Save Layout.
   Note: If your switches are connected in a daisy-chain configuration, Cluster Builder discovers only devices that are one hop from the command switch. You must add devices one at a time to discover all of the devices in the daisy chain. For more information, review how to add a device to the cluster. After you have added all the devices in the daisy chain and arranged them to your liking, click Save Layout.

Changing User Settings

You can change user settings and save them on the command switch so they remain in effect when you launch the application later. User settings include the Cluster Builder and Cluster Manager polling interval, the link and device graph polling interval, the Suggested Candidate start-up window, and the default view for launching cluster management software.

To change these settings, click User Settings. For more information, click Help on the User Settings page.

Note: After you change the polling interval, click Reload in Netscape (click Refresh in Internet Explorer) so the new settings take effect. When you change the graph polling interval, you must also close and reopen the graph window.

Displaying Host Names or Addresses and Port Connections

By default, Cluster Builder displays the host name on the label of each device. To display address and port connection information, click Toggle Labels.

When you toggle to addresses and port connection information, Cluster Builder displays IP addresses if they are assigned; otherwise, it displays the MAC addresses.

Displaying a Report of Cluster Interconnections

The Device Links report displays port connection information for cluster members. Port connection information for devices that are not part of the cluster is not displayed.

To display the device links report, click Device Links. For more information, click Help on the Device Links page.

Displaying Device Reports and Graphs

The Device Report page contains a drop-down list that you can use to generate configuration, system, and port reports and display MAC addresses learned on a port. The Bandwidth Graph displays an estimate of the traffic flowing through the switch.

Note: Device reports and bandwidth graphs are not available on Catalyst 1900 and 2820 switches.

To display device reports or the device bandwidth utilization graph:

1. Right-click on a cluster member (a device with a green label).
2. From the pop-up menu, select Device Report to display the Device Report page or Bandwidth Graph to display the bandwidth utilization graph.
   For more information, click Help on the Device Report page or on the Bandwidth Graph.
   Note: You can change the graph polling interval by clicking User Settings. For more information, click Help on the User Settings page.

Displaying Link Graphs

The Link Graph shows the total bytes transmitted and received on the link, total packets transmitted and received on the link, and total errors received on the link. To display a link graph, one end of the link must connect to a 2900 or 3500 XL port.

Note: Links between Catalyst 1900 and 2820 switches and links between any switch and a candidate device cannot be graphed.

To display a link graph:

1. Right-click on a link.
2. From the pop-up menu, select Link Graph.
   For more information, click Help on the graph.
   Note: You can change the graph polling interval by clicking User Settings. For more information, click Help on the User Settings page.

Displaying Cluster Manager

From Cluster Builder, you can access Cluster Manager, which displays images of the cluster switches in a consolidated physical view. By default, the command switch is located at the top of the cluster and is the only cluster member with an IP address displayed. From Cluster Manager, you can perform tasks on the port, device, and cluster level.

To display Cluster Manager, click Cluster Manager. For more information, click Help on the Cluster Manager page.

Displaying Cluster View

You can alternate between Cluster Builder and Cluster View. Cluster View displays the cluster as a double-switch icon and includes candidates and edge devices directly connected to the cluster. From this view, you can display link graphs, display performance graphs, and access other views.

To display Cluster View, click Toggle Views. For more information, click Help on the Cluster View page.