Redundancy feature is used to increase QX200 device availability using second QX200 as a backup unit. This requires two units running the same firmware version and connected to each other through Ethernet or LAN ports, depending on the device model.
The idea of redundancy is to ensure uninterrupted functionality of the QX200. The Redundancy Settings should be configured on both devices. One of the devices is configured as a master, the second one as a backup unit.
Note: To setup a redundant network, you should first startup the master device with all attached IP phones and other devices, make sure it works normally and then startup the backup device.
If the master device becomes unavailable, which can be caused by power loss, reboot or network malconfiguration, the second QX200 becomes automatically available and starts to run as a master device. Depending on the configuration, the second QX200 can remain master or go to the backup mode once the first device becomes available again.
Attention: During failover procedure all active calls will be disconnected and the system will be out of service during 2-5 minutes (depending on the number of IP phones connected to the system), which is needed for running the applications and rebooting the phones. If there are IP phones in the network that are not auto configured by QX200 (IP phones not supported by Epygi) or IP phones with the changed login name and password, you will need to reboot them manually. After failover the license keys, firmware and language pack are not being transferred from the master to backup device therefore, so make sure both devices are configured identically in the redundant network before enabling redundancy mechanism.
When you login to the device which runs in a backup mode, only Redundancy Settings are available. All other GUI configuration settings are non editable and automatically synchronized with the master device's configuration.
To ensure the interaction between the master and slave devices, corresponding configuration should be done in the Redundancy Settings on both devices.
Enable Redundancy checkbox is used to enable the redundancy functionality on the QX200.
Active Device Mode drop down list is only present on backup device and is used to adjust the behavior of the backup device during unavailability of master device. When Active is selected, backup device will become master once the original master device became unavailable. When Passive is selected, backup device stops its synchronization with the master device and will not take over the control even when the original master got failed unless Swap Master Device button is pressed on the master QX200. The Passive mode is used for firmware update, language pack and license keys updates on master device when a reboot is required. After the reboot of master device, the Active Device Mode on the backup device should be changed back to Active to restore the redundant network functionality.
Redundant Group ID text field unique ID (values 1 and up) identifying master and backup devices. The same value must be set on both devices.
Virtual IP Address text fields require the virtual IP address of the device where the configuration is done. Virtual Subnet Mask text fields require the virtual subnet mask of the device where the configuration is done. These two parameters identify an alternate IP network of the LAN interface which stays unchanged when the device switches its mode (from master to backup or vice versa). The configuration and voice data synchronization daemon uses this IP address to communicate with the second QX200.
Redundant Device Virtual IP Address text fields require an alternate IP address of the LAN interface of the second QX200.
Synchronization Interval text field requires the period of time (in seconds) between two consecutive configuration and voice data synchronizations from master to backup device.
Backup Device GUI Access Port text field is present on the master device only and requires the port used for accessing the GUI of the backup device through master.
Swap Master Device button is used for manual swapping of functionality of master and backup devices. This action will result in rebooting the current master. After rebooting the current master device will start running in a backup mode. Switching the backup to master starts all applications on QX200 and causes all IP phones to reboot. The swapping takes around 1 minute however another 1-3 minutes are required in order to reboot all the IP phones connected to redundant system. If backup device before swapping was in passive mode then after swapping the master will start running as backup in passive mode, otherwise if it was in active mode then master will start running as backup in active mode.
Download system logs link is only present on backup device and is used to download system logs to the local PC as a *.tar archive file. These logs can then be used by the Epygi Technical Support Office to determine the problem that has occurred on your QX200.