Preparing for a Virtual Chassis Configuration
Before you configure and use an MX Series Virtual Chassis, we recommend that you prepare the hardware and software in your network for the configuration.
To prepare for configuring an MX Series Virtual Chassis:
- Make a list of the serial numbers of each router that
you want to configure as part of the Virtual Chassis.
The chassis serial number is located on a label affixed to the side of the of the MX Series chassis. Alternatively, you can obtain the chassis serial number by issuing the
show chassis hardwarecommand, which is especially useful if you are accessing the router from a remote location. For example:user@gladius> show chassis hardware Hardware inventory: Item Version Part number Serial number Description Chassis JN10C7135AFC MX240 . . .
- Note the desired function of each router in the Virtual
Chassis.
In a two-router Virtual Chassis configuration, you must designate each router with the
routing-enginerole, which enables either router to function as the primary or backup of the Virtual Chassis.Note:When configuring multiple Routing Engines in a Virtual Chassis, all must have the same amount of physical memory allocated.
The primary router maintains the global configuration and state information for all members of the Virtual Chassis, and runs the chassis management processes.
The backup router synchronizes with the primary router and relays chassis control information (such as line-card presence and alarms) to the primary router. If the primary router is unavailable, the backup router takes primary role of the Virtual Chassis to preserve routing information and maintain network connectivity without disruption.
- Note the member ID (0 or 1) to be assigned to each router in the Virtual Chassis.
- Ensure that both MX Series routers in the Virtual Chassis
have dual Routing Engines installed, and that all four Routing Engines
in the Virtual Chassis are the same model.
For example, you cannot configure a Virtual Chassis if one member router has RE-S-2000 Routing Engines installed and the other member router has RE-S-1800 Routing Engines installed.
For the list of supported Routing Engines on MX series routers, see Supported Routing Engines by Router.
- Ensure that the necessary Modular Port Concentrator/Modular
Interface Card (MPC/MIC) interfaces on which to configure the Virtual
Chassis ports are installed and operational in each router to be configured
as a member of the Virtual Chassis.Note:
An MX Series Virtual Chassis does not support a combination of 1-Gigabit Ethernet (
gemedia type) Virtual Chassis ports and 10-Gigabit Ethernet (xemedia type) Virtual Chassis ports within the same Virtual Chassis. You must configure either all 10-Gigabit Ethernet Virtual Chassis ports or all 1-Gigabit Ethernet Virtual Chassis ports in the same Virtual Chassis. We recommend that you configure Virtual Chassis ports on 10-Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. This restriction has no effect on access ports or uplink ports in an MX Series Virtual Chassis configuration. - If MX Series Enhanced Queuing IP Services DPCs (DPCE-R-Q
model numbers) or MX Series Enhanced Queuing Ethernet Services DPCs
(DPCE-X-Q model numbers) are installed in a router to be configured
as a member of the Virtual Chassis, make sure these DPCs are offline
before you configure the Virtual Chassis. Otherwise, the MX Series
Virtual Chassis configuration will not function.Note:
MX Series Enhanced Queuing IP Services DPCs (DPCE-R-Q model numbers) and MX Series Enhanced Queuing Ethernet Services DPCs (DPCE-X-Q model numbers) do not interoperate with features of the MX Series Virtual Chassis.
- Determine the desired location of the dedicated Virtual Chassis ports on both member routers, and use the Virtual Chassis ports to physically interconnect the member routers in a point-to-point topology.
- Ensure that both MX Series routers to be configured as a member of the Virtual Chassis are running the same Junos OS release, and have basic network connectivity.