Supported Platforms
Example: Adding EX4500 Switches to a Preprovisioned Virtual Chassis
A Virtual Chassis is multiple switches operating as a single network entity. You might want to expand your existing Virtual Chassis by adding EX4500 switches to your Virtual Chassis configuration. You can include up to ten EX4500 switches in an EX4500 Virtual Chassis or a mixed EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis.
This example describes how to add two EX4500 switches to an existing EX4200 Virtual Chassis that was preprovisioned. A preprovisioned configuration is a Virtual Chassis configuration in which the roles are statically assigned to each member switch:
Requirements
This example uses the following hardware and software components:
- Junos OS Release 11.1 or later for EX Series switches
- Two EX4200 switches interconnected into a Virtual Chassis
- Two standalone EX4500 switches with Virtual Chassis modules
Before you begin, be sure you have:
- An operational EX4200 Virtual Chassis with two member EX4200 switches that was configured using a preprovisioned configuration.
- Installed the same version of Junos OS Release 11.1 or later on all members of the Virtual Chassis and on the EX4500 switches.
 | Note: You must use Junos OS Release 11.4 or later if you are including three or more EX4500 switches in an EX4500 Virtual Chassis or a mixed EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis. |
Overview and Topology
You can create an EX4200 Virtual Chassis by cabling two operational EX4200 switches together using the dedicated Virtual Chassis ports (VCPs) on each EX4200 switch. When you preprovision a Virtual Chassis, you configure the roles for each member switch.
Table 1 shows the configuration of the two-member EX4200 Virtual Chassis before the EX4500 member switches were added.
Table 1: Components of the EX4200 Virtual Chassis Before the EX4500 Member Switches Are Added
| Member Switch | Hardware | Member ID | Role and Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
SWA-0 | EX4200 switch | 0 | Master |
SWA-1 | EX4200 switch | 1 | Backup |
Table 2 shows the configuration of the mixed EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis after the EX4500 member switches are added to the Virtual Chassis and the roles are assigned.
Table 2: Final Mixed EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis Components
| Member Switch | Hardware | Member ID | Role and Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
SWA-0 | EX4200 switch | 0 | Linecard |
SWA-1 | EX4200 switch | 1 | Linecard |
SWA-2 | EX4500 switch | 2 | Master |
SWA-3 | EX4500 switch | 3 | Backup |
Figure 1 shows the hardware topology of the mixed EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis.
Figure 1: Mixed EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis Topology (Preprovisioned Configuration)
Configuration
Step-by-Step Procedure
To add two EX4500 switches to an existing EX4200 Virtual Chassis that was preprovisioned:
- Log in to the EX4200 Virtual Chassis.
- Set all member switches into mixed mode:
user@switch> request virtual-chassis mode mixed all-members - Reboot all member switches in the Virtual Chassis:
user@switch> request system reboot - Power on SWA-2 and SWA-3, the EX4500 switches.
- Set the PIC mode to the Virtual Chassis mode on both SWA-2
and SWA-3:
user@switch> request chassis pic-mode virtual-chassis - On each of the switches SWA-2 and SWA-3, configure the
switch as a member of the mixed EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis:
user@switch> request virtual-chassis mode mixed - Reboot the EX4500 switches.
- Log in to the EX4200 Virtual Chassis and change the roles
of the EX4200 member switches to line-card:
[edit virtual-chassis]
user@SWA–0# set member 0 role line-card
user@SWA–0# set member 1 role line-card - Add the EX4500 switches to the Virtual Chassis configuration:
[edit virtual-chassis]
user@SWA–0# set member 2 serial-number ghi789 role routing-engine
user@SWA–0# set member 3 serial-number jkl012 role routing-engine - Cable SWA-2 and SWA-3 into the Virtual Chassis using the
dedicated VCPs.
Note: We recommend cabling one VCP into the Virtual Chassis, waiting for the new switch to be recognized by the Virtual Chassis, then cabling the other VCP on the new switch into the Virtual Chassis.
If you immediately cable both VCPs into the existing Virtual Chassis, one of the Virtual Chassis member switches might become nonoperational for several seconds. Network traffic to that member switch is dropped during the downtime.
The switch will return to the normal operational state with no user intervention, and normal operation of the Virtual Chassis will resume after this downtime.
Verification
To confirm that the Virtual Chassis configuration is operational, perform these tasks:
Verifying Virtual Chassis Availability and Roles
Purpose
Verify that the Virtual Chassis is up and that the member switches are in the correct roles.
Action
List the member switches and roles.
user@SWA-2> show virtual-chassisVirtual Chassis ID: 0019.e250.47a0
Mastership Neighbor List
Member ID Status Serial No Model priority Role ID Interface
0 (FPC 0) Prsnt AK02073602764 ex4200-48p 0 Linecard 1 vcp-0
3 vcp-1
1 (FPC 1) Prsnt AK02073602814 ex4200-48p 0 Linecard 0 vcp-0
2 vcp-1
2 (FPC 2) Prsnt AK02073602844 ex4500-40f 129 Master* 1 vcp-0
3 vcp-1
3 (FPC 3) Prsnt AK02073602088 ex4500-40f 129 Backup 2 vcp-0
0 vcp-1
Meaning
The show virtual-chassis command lists the member switches interconnected in a Virtual Chassis configuration with the member IDs that have been assigned by the master, the mastership priority values, and the roles. It also displays the neighbor members with which each member is interconnected. The output shows that the switches have the correct mastership priorities and roles.
