Configuring Virtual Network Devices into an IPMP Group in a Logical Domain

A logical domain can be configured for fault-tolerance by configuring its virtual network devices to an IPMP group. When setting up an IPMP group with virtual network devices, in a active-standby configuration, set up the group to use probe-based detection. Link-based detection and failover currently are not supported for virtual network devices in Logical Domains 1.2 software.

The following diagram shows two virtual networks (vnet1 and vnet2) connected to separate virtual switch instances (vsw0 and vsw1) in the service domain, which, in turn, use two different physical interfaces (e1000g0 and e1000g1). In the event of a physical interface failure, the IP layer in LDom_A detects failure and loss of connectivity on the corresponding vnet through probe-based detection, and automatically fails over to the secondary vnet device.

Figure 7–3 Two Virtual Networks Connected to Separate Virtual Switch Instances

Further reliability can be achieved in the logical domain by connecting each virtual network device (vnet0 and vnet1) to virtual switch instances in different service domains (as shown in the following diagram). In this case, in addition to network hardware failure, LDom_A can detect virtual network failure and trigger a failover following a service domain crash or shutdown.

Figure 7–4 Each Virtual Network Device Connected to Different Service Domains

Refer to the Solaris 10 System Administration Guide: IP Services for more information about how to configure and use IPMP groups.