GE HC HP User Manual page 59

Note that the Inband bytes run through the upper level of the cluster.
The Ethernet interface of every Network Element (NE) is assigned the CIDR=/29 subnet, i.e. subnet mask
255.255.255.248. This allows 6 elements to be communicated over the interface. These addresses can be fully
utilized when two Intrepid-HC HP/T shelves are cascaded for 7+1 group protection.
The figure above shows "back-to-back" connected Intrepid-HC HP/T shelves at the same sites: B, C, and D, for
East/West chaining. Two NE IDCs (NE 2 and NE 3), at the same site, are connected over a PPPoE link.
This scheme allows four links of up to 7+1 (eight Intrepid-HC HP/T shelves, as shown, or sixteen shelves cascaded
in pairs) chained through the same NMS/SNMP Agent management, when IP addresses are allocated as described
above.
Notes:
1. The CIDR=/29 subnet allows external element communication (such as a laptop connected to the site B LAN)
only if there are less than six IDCs operating on two cascaded Intrepid-HC HP/T shelves. The subnet is not
sufficient for three Intrepid-HC HP/T cascading shelves. Three cascaded shelves require CIDR=/28 nodes
(subnet mask 255.255.255.240). This reduces the available number of chained links to 50%.
GE MDS Intrepid-HC HP Installation Guide 2-17