1.1.1 Functional comparison

Table 1.1 Function comparison (1) and Table 1.2 Function comparison (2) compare the functions of each network switching mode.

Table 1.1 Function comparison (1)
Redundant line switching method			Fast switching mode	RIP mode
Network control			Makes both of redundant transmission routes active and uses them concurrently. A stream of data is sent on a TCP connection.	Makes both of redundant transmission routes active and uses either of the transmission routes according to the standard protocol, RIP Routing Information Protocol).
Fault monitoring	Detectable failures		NIC, cable, HUB, remote host	NIC, cable, HUB, router
	Fault monitoring	Monitoring method	Monitors framework between the NIC of the host and that of the remote host. If the frame communication is disrupted, a transmission route failure will be detected.	Monitors sending and receiving RIP packets. If the packet communication is disrupted, a transmission route failure will be detected.
	Fault monitoring	Failure detection time	5 to 10 seconds (Default)	5 minutes (non-tunable)
	Recovery monitoring	Monitoring recovery method	Monitors framework between the NIC of the host and that of the remote host. If the frame communication is disrupted, a transmission route failure will be detected.	Monitors sending and receiving RIP packets. If the packet communication is disrupted, a transmission route failure will be detected.
	Recovery monitoring	Recovery detection time	1 to 5 seconds (Default)	1 to 30 seconds (non-tunable)
	Fault monitoring start/stop		Automatically starts along with virtual interface activation and stops along with its deactivation.	Automatically starts along with virtual interface activation and stops along with its deactivation.
Line switching	Switchover		Automatically disconnects a failed transmission route and uses the other transmission route. Manual disconnection of the failed route is also allowed with the operational command.	Switches a failed transmission route according to RIP packet routing.
Line switching	Switchback		If a failed transmission route is recovered, it will automatically rejoin an ongoing operation. Manual disconnection of the failed route is also allowed with the operational command.	If a failed transmission route is recovered, it will automatically rejoin an ongoing operation according to RIP packet routing. Manual switchback is not supported.
Conditions	Remote hosts		PRIMEPOWER, GP7000F, PRIMERGY, PRIMEQUEST	Arbitrary host
	IP addresses		IPv4 address, IPv6 address	IPv4 address
	Solaris container		Operated on a global zone. Ensures a high-reliability communication infrastructure on both of the global and non-global zones.	Operated in a global zone. Ensures a high-reliability communication infrastructure on the global zone only.

Table 1.2 Function comparison (2)
Redundant line switching method			NIC switching mode	GS/SURE linkage mode
Network control			Activates and uses one redundant transmission route exclusively and deactivates the other route.	Makes both of redundant transmission routes active and uses them concurrently. A stream of data is sent on a TCP connection.
Fault monitoring	Detectable failures		NIC, cable, HUB,	NIC failure, Cable failure, HUB failure, Remote host failure (system failure)
	Fault monitoring	Monitoring method	Monitors HUB using the ping command. If the HUB communication is disrupted, a transmission route failure will be detected.	Monitors a remote host using the ping command. If the communication is disrupted, a transmission route failure will be detected.
	Fault monitoring	Failure detection time	25 to 30 seconds. (Default)	25 to 30 seconds. (Default)
	Recovery monitoring	Recovery monitoring method	If a monitoring framework is sent from a standby NIC to an operating NIC, and the standby NIC receives a reply from the operating NIC within a specified time, transmission route recovery will be detected.	Monitors a remote host using the ping command. If the system receives a reply from the remote host within a specified time, transmission route recovery will be detected.
	Recovery monitoring	Recovery detection time	1 to 15 seconds (Default)	1 to 5 seconds. (Default)
	Fault monitoring start/stop		Automatically starts along with virtual interface activation and stops along with its deactivation. Manual startup or stop of fault monitoring is also allowed with the operational command.	Automatically starts along with virtual interface activation and stops along with its deactivation. Manual startup or stop of fault monitoring is also allowed with the operational command.
Line switching	Switchover		Automatically deactivates NIC of a failed transmission route and activates a standby NIC. Manual switching operation is also allowed with the operational command.	Automatically disconnects a failed transmission route and uses the other transmission route. Manual switching operation is not supported.
Line switching	Switchback		If a failed transmission route is recovered, it will automatically rejoin operation as a standby NIC. Manual rejoining is also allowed with the operational command.	If a failed transmission route is recovered, it will automatically join communication. Manual rejoining is not supported.
Conditions	Remote hosts		Arbitrary host	GS (Global Server), SURE SYSTEM, ExINCA
	IP addresses		IPv4 address, IPv6 address	IPv4 address
	Solaris container		Operated on a global zone. Ensures a high-reliability communication infrastructure on both of the global and non-global zones.	Operated in a global zone. Ensures a high-reliability communication infrastructure on the global zone only.