ACE Bridge-mode: How to do FT?

Question

Dear All,
I've set up a test user context in Bridge mode on an ACE blade and now want to set up FT to a second blade. The manuals have confused me slightly and most of the examples I have seen relate to routed mode.
In my topology I have Router1 connected to Router2 which has the ACE blade. Router1 is also connected to Router3 which is in turn connected to Router4 which contains a second ACE blade.
Do I create an identical configuration for the context on the second blade and how to I define the FT vlan?
The current configuration and toplogy are attached. Any pointers would be much appreciated.
Thank you
Cathy

Answer 1

Gilles,
The Admin Guide warns about the use of the force option (7-20) - and the command itself warns of possible network disruption.
Without the force option these are the states of the two blades:
ace1/Admin# sh ft gro 1 de
FT Group : 1
Configured Status : in-service
Maintenance mode : MAINT_MODE_OFF
My State : FSM_FT_STATE_ACTIVE
My Config Priority : 200
My Net Priority : 200
My Preempt : Enabled
Peer State : FSM_FT_STATE_STANDBY_HOT
Peer Config Priority : 100
Peer Net Priority : 100
Peer Preempt : Enabled
Peer Id : 1
Last State Change time : Tue Sep 18 08:10:30 2007
No. of Contexts : 1
Context Name : Test
Context Id : 2
ace2/Admin# sh ft gro 1 de
FT Group : 1
Configured Status : in-service
Maintenance mode : MAINT_MODE_OFF
My State : FSM_FT_STATE_STANDBY_HOT
My Config Priority : 100
My Net Priority : 100
My Preempt : Enabled
Peer State : FSM_FT_STATE_ACTIVE
Peer Config Priority : 200
Peer Net Priority : 200
Peer Preempt : Enabled
Peer Id : 1
Last State Change time : Tue Sep 18 08:10:29 2007
No. of Contexts : 1
Context Name : Test
Context Id : 1
switchover
ace1/Admin# sh ft gro 1 de
FT Group : 1
Configured Status : in-service
Maintenance mode : MAINT_MODE_OFF
My State : FSM_FT_STATE_STANDBY_BULK
My Config Priority : 200
My Net Priority : 200
My Preempt : Disabled
Peer State : FSM_FT_STATE_ACTIVE
Peer Config Priority : 100
Peer Net Priority : 100
Peer Preempt : Enabled
Peer Id : 1
Last State Change time : Tue Sep 18 09:31:20 2007
No. of Contexts : 1
Context Name : Test
Context Id : 2
ace2/Admin# sh ft gro 1 de
FT Group : 1
Configured Status : in-service
Maintenance mode : MAINT_MODE_OFF
My State : FSM_FT_STATE_ACTIVE
My Config Priority : 100
My Net Priority : 100
My Preempt : Enabled
Peer State : FSM_FT_STATE_STANDBY_HOT
Peer Config Priority : 200
Peer Net Priority : 200
Peer Preempt : Disabled
Peer Id : 1
Last State Change time : Tue Sep 18 09:31:33 2007
No. of Contexts : 1
Context Name : Test
Context Id : 1
I can ping my PC from the standby blade, but a traceroute to the VIP for the webservers still shows it going to the router housing the primary ACE blade even though the context on the standby blade is active.
Thanks
Cathy