Stratix 5400/5410 Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) https://rockwellautomation.custhelp.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_i...

ID: QA37435 | Access Levels: TechConnect

Stratix 5400/5410 Parallel Redundancy

Protocol (PRP)

Document ID QA37435

Published Date 02/15/2020

Summary
Stratix 5400/5410 Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP)

Question
• Why is the Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) configuration option missing from
Device Manager?
• How to configure PRP using Device Manager or Command Line Interface (CLI)?
• Can I use any ports on the Stratix 5400/5410 to configure my PRP Channels?
• Are there any known or corrected anomalies with PRP?

Environment
• Stratix 5400 Firmware 15.2(2)EA1 to 15.2(5)EA.fc4
• Stratix 5410 Firmware 15.2(2)EA1 to 15.2(5)EA.fc4

Answer

Table of Contents
• Information About Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP)

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• Role of the RedBox Switch

• How it works
• VDAN Table and Node Table on the RedBox PRP
• Prerequisites
• Known and Corrected Anomalies with PRP
• PRP Channels and Ports
• Configuring PRP using the Device Manager
• Configuring PRP using CLI

Information About Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP)

Only the Stratix 5400 and 5410 switches support Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) as a Redundancy Box
(RedBox). As a RedBox, PRP sends duplicate packets from two different ports on independent network paths.
The redundant paths provide high availability for data transmission if one of the paths encounters a failure. A
PRP Network is effectively two similar LANs.

Benefits
• Provides zero packet loss convergence
• Standards Based IEC 62439-3
• Can co-exist with STP and REP

Terms

• A Single Attached Node(s) (SANs) device is a single-port end device that does not
contain any PRP capabilities.
• Dually Attached Node(s) (DANs) with PRP capabilities has an additional element
implemented in their network card called LRE - Link Redundancy Entity.
• Virtual DAN(s) (VDANs) is a node behind a RedBox and appears for other nodes like a
Dually Attached Nodes (DAN).

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Role of the RedBox Switch

A RedBox is used when an end node that does not have two network ports and does not implement PRP needs to
implement redundancy. Such an end node can connect to a RedBox, which provides connectivity to the two
different networks on behalf of the device. Because a node behind a RedBox appears for other nodes like a DAN,

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it is called a VDAN. The RedBox itself is a DAN and acts as a proxy on behalf of its VDANs.

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How it works
PRP uses a scheme where the end nodes implement redundancy (instead of network elements) by connecting
two network interfaces to two independent, disjointed, parallel networks (LAN-A & LAN-B). Each of these DANs
then have redundant paths to all other DANs in the network

A switch operating with PRP channel configuration designates two Gigabit Ethernet ports connections, one port
is connected to LAN-A and the other port connected to LAN-B. The DAN is connected to one of the other non-
PRP designated port. The DAN sends two packets simultaneously through its two network interfaces to the
destination node. A redundancy control trailer (RCT), which includes a sequence number, is added to each frame
to help the destination node distinguish between duplicate packets. When the destination DAN receives the first
packet successfully, it removes the RCT and consumes the packet. If the second packet arrives successfully, it is
discarded. If a failure occurs in one of the paths, tra�c continues to flow over the other path uninterrupted, and
zero recovery time is required.

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VDAN Table and Node Table on the RedBox PRP

Tra�c leaving the RedBox PRP channel group can be mixed, that is, destined to either SANs (connected only on
either LAN-A or LAN-B) or DANs. To avoid duplication of packets for SANs, the switch dynamically learns source
MAC addresses from received supervision frames for DAN entries and source MAC addresses from non-PRP
(regular tra�c) frames for SAN entries. The switch maintains these addresses in the Node table. When
forwarding packets out of the PRP channel to SAN MAC addresses, the switch looks up the entry and determines
which LAN to send to rather than duplicating the packet.

A RedBox with VDANs needs to send supervisory frames on behalf of those VDANs. For tra�c coming in on all
other ports and going out PRP channel ports, the switch learns source MAC addresses, adds them to the VDAN
table, and starts sending Supervisory frames for these addresses. Optionally, you can add static entries to the
VDAN and Node tables.

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Prerequisites
Configuring PRP on both the Stratix 5400 and the Stratix 5410 using the Device Manager or Command Line
Interface (CLI) depends on the firmware version. The PRP feature is supported on Stratix 5400 and the Stratix

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5410 in Cisco IOS Release 15.2(2)EA however configuration of PRP is available only using CLI. PRP configuration
via Device Manager is available in 15.2(5)EA.fc4.

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Known and Corrected Anomalies with PRP

Please see the Release Notes for the 1783-HMS family of Ethernet managed switches and the 1783-IMS family of
Ethernet Distribution Switches for known and corrected anomalies in regards to PRP. Release Notes can be
found in the Product Compatibility and Download Center

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PRP Channels and Ports

PRP channel or channel group is a logical interface that aggregates two Gigabit Ethernet interfaces (access,
trunk, or routed) into a single link. In the channel group, the lower numbered Gigabit Ethernet member port is the
primary port and connects to LAN-A. The higher numbered port is the secondary port and connects to LAN-B.
The PRP channel remains up as long as at least one of these member ports remains up and sends tra�c. When
both member ports are down, the channel is down. The total number of supported PRP channel groups is 2 per
switch, and the interfaces that can be utilized for each group on each switch series are fixed.

On the Stratix 5400, a PRP channel group is composed of two ports, one of which represents LAN-A and the
other LAN-B:

• PRP channel group 1 always uses Gi1/1 for LAN-A and Gi1/2 for LAN-B
• PRP channel group 2 always uses Gi1/3 for LAN-A and Gi1/4 for LAN-B

On the Stratix 5410, a PRP channel group is composed of two ports, one of which represents LAN-A and the
other LAN-B:

• PRP channel group 1 always uses Gi1/17 for LAN-A and Gi1/18 for LAN-B
• PRP channel group 2 always uses Gi1/19 for LAN-A and Gi1/20 for LAN-B

PRP channel group ports can support Administrative modes:

• Access (default)-Layer 2
• Trunk-Trunk mode
• Routed-Layer 3

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Configuring PRP using the Device Manager

PRP Configuration using the Device Manager only available for firmware 15.2(5)EA or higher. See below for
Configuration using CLI for firmware 15.2(4)EA or lower.

�. In Device Manager, go to Configure �> PRP.

�. To add a PRP channel, click Channel Table tab then click Add, and then complete the
fields, and then click OK.

�. In the Add PRP Channel window, follow these steps:

• Channel Group Number drop down, choose a channel group number: 1 (default) or 2

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◦ If configuring PRP Channel Group 1 then:

◦ Port 1 drop down, choose a port to be a member of the channel group:
▪ Valid port on Stratix 5400 switches: Gi1/1
▪ Valid port on Stratix 5410 switches: Gi1/17
◦ Port 2 drop down, choose a port to be a member of the channel group:
▪ Valid port on Stratix 5400 switches: Gi1/2
▪ Valid port on Stratix 5410 switches: Gi1/18
◦ If configuring PRP Channel Group 2 then:
◦ Port 1 drop down, choose a port to be a member of the channel group:
▪ Valid port on Stratix 5400 switches: Gi1/3
▪ Valid port on Stratix 5410 switches: Gi1/19
◦ Port 2 drop down, choose a port to be a member of the channel group:
▪ Valid port on Stratix 5400 switches: Gi1/4
▪ Valid port on Stratix 5410 switches: Gi1/20
• Administrative checkbox, check the Enable checkbox to enable the switch ports. By
default, the ports are enabled. If the Enable checkbox is unchecked the it will disable
the switch port
• Administrative Mode drop down, choose a mode to assign to the PRP channel
group:
◦ Access (default)-Layer 2Trunk
◦ Trunk mode
◦ Routed-Layer 3
• Description field is optional for user to type a description for the PRP channel. The
description can contain a maximum of 200 characters.
• Access VLAN drop down, (will only be enabled if Access is Administrative mode)
choose the VLAN associated with the PRP channel group.
◦ The default value is default-1.
• Allowed VLAN drop down, (will only be enabled if Trunk is Administrative mode)
choose one of these options to specify the VLANs to transmit tra�c from this
channel group in tagged format:
◦ All VLANS (default)-Click to allow all VLANs to transmit tra�c from this

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channel group.
◦ VLAN IDs-Click to allow only the VLANs you specify to transmit tra�c from this
channel group. Type each VLAN ID separated by a comma.
• Native VLAN drop down, (will only be enabled if Trunk is Administrative mode)
choose the VLAN to send and receive untagged tra�c on the trunk port.
◦ The default value is default-1.
• IP Assignment Mode field (will only be enabled for Routed mode) click one of these
options to specify the IP address of this PRP channel group:
◦ No IP Address-Do not assign an IP address.
◦ Static-Assign a static IP address. Type the IP address and the subnet mask.
◦ DHCP-Allow an IP address to be assigned via DHCP.

(Optional) To add an entry to the PRP VDAN table, follow these steps.

Note: For tra�c coming in on all other ports and going out PRP channel ports, the switch learns source MAC
addresses, adds them to the VDAN table, and starts sending Supervisory frames for these addresses.
Optionally, you can add static entries to the VDAN and Node tables.

�. From the PRP window, click the VDAN Table tab then click Add, and then complete
the fields, and then click OK.

�. In the Add PRP Vdan window, follow these steps:

• Channel Group Number dropdown, choose a channel group number: 1 (default) or 2

• VDAN MAC Address field, type the MAC address of the VDAN.
• VLAN ID field (Access mode only) choose the VLAN associated with the PRP channel
group. The default value is default-1.

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(Optional) To add an entry to the PRP Node table, follow these steps.

Note: To avoid duplication of packets for SANs, the switch dynamically learns source MAC addresses from
received supervision frames for DAN entries and source MAC addresses from non-PRP (regular tra�c) frames
for SAN entries. The switch maintains these addresses in the Node table. When forwarding packets out of the
PRP channel to SAN MAC addresses, the switch looks up the entry and determines which LAN to send to
rather than duplicating the packet.

�. From the PRP window, click the Node Table tab then click Add, and then complete
the fields, and then click OK.

�. In the Add PRP Node window, follow these steps:

• Channel Group Number dropdown, choose a channel group number: 1 (default) or 2

• Node Table MAC Address field, type the MAC address of the DAN or SAN.
• Node dropdown, choose the type of PRP node:
◦ DAN (default)-Dual attached node
◦ SAN-A-Single attached node on LAN A
◦ SAN-B-Single attached node on LAN B.

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Configuring PRP using the CLI

Configuration of PRP for firmware 15.2(4)EA or lower can only be done using CLI. PRP Configuration using the
Device Manager is only available for firmware 15.2(5)EA or higher. See above for Device Manager configuration.

This Stratix 5400 configuration for PRP example shows how to create a PRP channel, create a PRP channel

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group, and assign two ports to that group.

Note: Configuration for the Stratix 5410 are the same in all the examples below except for the GigabitEthernet
ports would be different.

switch5400# configure terminal

switch5400 (config)# no spanning-tree etherchannel guard misconfig
switch5400 (config)# interface range GigabitEthernet1/1-2
switch5400 (config-if)# no ptp enable
switch5400 (config-if)# no keepalive
switch5400 (config-if)# prp-channel-group 1
switch5400 (config-if)# spanning-tree bpdu filter enable

Note: The spanning-tree bpdufilter enable command is only used when STP is used, when REP is
used, then follow the REP configuration. See below in Other references for REP configuration.

switch5400 (config-if)# no shutdown

This Stratix 5400 configuration for PRP example shows how to create a PRP channel with a VLAN ID of 2.

switch5400# configure terminal

switch5400 (config)# no spanning-tree etherchannel guard misconfig
switch5400 (config)# interface range GigabitEthernet1/1-2
switch5400 (config-if)# switchport
switch5400 (config-if)# switchport mode access
switch5400 (config-if)# switchport access vlan 2
switch5400 (config-if)# no ptp enable
switch5400 (config-if)# no keepalive
switch5400 (config-if)# prp-channel-group 1
switch5400 (config-if)# spanning-tree bpdufilter enable

Note: The spanning-tree bpdufilter enable command is only used when STP is used, when REP is
used, then follow the REP configuration. See below in Other references for REP configuration.

switch5400 (config-if)# no shutdown

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This Stratix 5400 configuration for PRP example shows how to create a PRP channel on a switch configured with
Layer 3.

switch5400# configure terminal

switch5400 (config)# no spanning-tree etherchannel guard misconfig
switch5400 (config)# interface range GigabitEthernet1/1-2
switch5400 (config-if)# no switchport
switch5400 (config-if)# no ptp enable
switch5400 (config-if)# no keepalive
switch5400 (config-if)# prp-channel-group 1
switch5400 (config-if)# no shutdown
switch5400 (config-if)# exit
switch5400 (config)# interface prp-channel 1
switch5400 (config)# ip address 192.0.0.2 255.255.255.0

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Other references:

• Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) for IE 4000, IE 4010, and IE 5000 Switches
Configuration Guide
•
• 60492 - Stratix Switch Fiber Connection Facts
•
•

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