intelligent resilient framework (IRF)

Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) is a software-based, fault-tolerant virtualization technology developed by H3C. The idea behind it is that various network components are interconnected via physical IRF ports and virtualized in a single network node.

Virtualization simplifies the topology, unifies the network management and only one component needs to be maintained.

A virtual IRF component appears as a single network component. For example, IRF technology can be used to virtualize two or more switches into a single switching and routing system to form a virtual switch. Such an IRF system supports load balancing, aggregation and redundancy, as well as all backup and switching layer functions. By aggregating the core switches, IRF simplifies the construction of local networks as well as the combination of different spanning tree and redundancy protocols such as Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol( MSTP) and Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol( VRRP).