Master election

Master election occurs each time the IRF fabric topology changes in the following situations:

• The IRF fabric is established.

• The master device fails or is removed.

• The IRF fabric splits.

• Independent IRF fabrics merge.

	NOTE: Master election does not occur when two split IRF fabrics merge.

Master election selects a master in descending order:

1. Current master, even if a new member has higher priority.

   When an IRF fabric is being formed, all members consider themselves as the master. This rule is skipped.

2. Member with higher priority. If all members have the same priority, this rule is skipped.

3. Member with the longest system uptime.

   Two members are considered to start up at the same time if the difference between their startup times is equal to or less than 10 minutes. For these members, the next tiebreaker applies.

4. Member with the lowest CPU MAC address.

For the setup of a new IRF fabric, the subordinate devices must reboot to complete the setup after the master election.

For an IRF merge, devices must reboot if they are in the IRF fabric that fails the master election.