Virtual Chassis

Configuring Stacking

Example for two switches:

Disabling split detection is optional. If the backup switch went down, by default, the primary switch would transition into a deactivated state because it lost its member. Disabling the behavior will allow the primary device to stay up in case the backup fails. It is strongly recommended for stack setups with only 2 members.

Example config walkthrough.

check code version with

show version

make sure they match

On your master switch of choice:

set virtual-chassis no-split-detection

Choose your port you want to function as the VC port, in this example port 10:

request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 0 port 10

View the status:

show virtual-chassis vc-port

Then console into the second stack member and repeat:

show version
request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 0 port 10

Then check master:

show virtual-chassis

show interfaces terse

You should see the additional ports 0/0/0 1/0/0 etc.

Stacking more than 2 switches

so the master switch DOESN't need to be connected to all of the other switches, each switch just needs to have one port connected and configured as a VC port to join the existing virtual chassis. Deciding which switch is the master can be decided by the switches automatically or this can be configured manually as seen in a (provisioned) deployment.

Preprovisioned

Have to configure root password, should stop auto upgrade:

set system root-authentication plain-text-password
delete chassis auto-image-upgrade
set system hostname MASTER

To get the serial number:

show chassis hardware

Then:

set virtual-chassis preprovisioned
set-virtual-chassis no-split-detection
set virtual-chassis member 0 serial-number JX362243523 role routing-engine

For the other member:

set system root-authentication plain-text-password
delete chassis auto-image-upgrade
set system hostname BACKUP
commit
run show version
run show chassis hardware

Once you grab the serial and confirm the firmware is the same, go back to the master switch:

set virtual-chassis member 1 serial-number JX3622400583 role routing-engine
commit

Check status:

show virtual-chassis

Enable both VC ports on the master, here you can see that pic-slot 1 is the SFP ports:

request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 1 port 0
request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 1 port 1

Cable still needs connected

Configure the backup switch:

set virtual-chassis no-split-detection
commit
exit
request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 1 port 0
request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 1 port 1

Connect the DAC Cables: He did 0-0 and 1-1:

Logged in as root, used cli

show virtual-chassis vc-port
show virtual-chassis

show interfaces should show all ports

Configure the commit synchronize command to synchronize the commit command in multiple routing engines in the same chassis:

set system commit synchronize
commit synchronize

Configure primary routing engine to failover without interuption to packet forwarding:

set chassis aggregated-devices ethernet device-count 2

Three Switches

First sign in as root, then:

cli
show virtual-chassis vc-port

show chassis hardware

request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 1 port 2
request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 1 port 3
show virtual-chassis vc-port

Go into the second switch:

cli
show virtual-chassis status detail
show virtual-chassis vc-port
request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 1 port 2
request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 1 port 3
show virtual-chassis status detail

Go into the third switch:

cli
show virtual-chassis status detail
request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 1 port 3
request virtual-chassis vc-port set pic-slot 1 port 2

Reboot with

request system reboot all-members