implications of MFD "master" when using multiple MFDS

[Kensny]

Hello,

My question pertains to a Lighthouse II (and III) system using E, Es and Axiom equipment, where there may be as many as 3 MFDSs. This is on a sailboat. My plan is to have:

1. a smaller (probably an E97 or ES98) at the helm - can't fit anything larger

2. a large display (Es128) inside the cabin, close to the cockpit / helm, with the advantage of being able to view the larger display close to the helm

3. An additional smaller display ( E97 or ES98) at the nav station, which is further in the boat.

Since I am a typical sailboat, reducing power usage is important, so I may at times have only one MFD powered on, and turn the others on as needed. While the mfd at the helm is most likely to be on most often, there may be times when that is switched off and I use one of the others as master.

Given this, what implications - hardware and software - are there for selecting the master MFD ? How can one obtain maximum flexibility and robustness?

My understanding is that if the master is powered off, one of the other mfds can be selected as the new master (does this happen automatically)?
However there may be certain hardware limitations. For instance if I am using downvision sonar, and the sonar component is built into one of the mfds and the transducer connected to it, then I suppose I couldn't switch off that mfd and still use the sonar (?). Would I be better off with an external sonar "box" that sits on the network instead of within an mfd ? Similar question regarding radar - digital or quantum.

Also when using components such as radar, transducer, that may be either connected directly to an MFD , or connected through the network, is it more robust to have them going to the network, or able to switch to another mfd, than directly into one of the mfds ? I'm asking this in case one of the mfds has a problem and stops functioning.

Thank you !