Technical Documentation

Planning EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis

Before interconnecting EX4200 and EX4500 switches in a Virtual Chassis configuration:

Verify that the rack in which the switches are installed meets the requirements described in Rack Requirements for EX4200 Switches and Rack Requirements for EX4500 Switches. You can mount the switches in a Virtual Chassis on a single rack or on multiple racks.
Verify that the installation site meets the power requirements of the switches in a Virtual Chassis.
Verify that you have installed a Virtual Chassis module in an EX4500 switch. The Virtual Chassis module must be installed in an EX4500 switch to form a Virtual Chassis.

Table 1 describes the Virtual Chassis components and the Junos OS release running on switches that you need to consider as you plan your EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis configuration.

Table 1: Virtual Chassis Components to Consider when Planning an EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis

Virtual Chassis Components	Junos OS Release Running on the Member Switches	Virtual Chassis Details
EX4200 switches only	Junos OS Release 9.0 and later	You can interconnect two to ten EX4200 switches to form a Virtual Chassis composed exclusively of EX4200 switches.
EX4500 switches only	Junos OS Releases 11.1, 11.2, and 11.3	You can interconnect two EX4500 switches into a Virtual Chassis composed exclusively of EX4500 switches.
EX4500 switches only	Junos OS Release 11.4 or later	You can interconnect upto ten EX4500 switches into a Virtual Chassis composed exclusively of EX4500 switches.
EX4200 and EX4500 switches	EX4200 and EX4500 switches can be connected together into the same Virtual Chassis to form a mixed EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis. You can interconnect EX4200 and EX4500 switches through the dedicated Virtual Chassis ports (VCPs) to form a mixed Virtual Chassis. You can also interconnect EX4500 switches through SFP+ uplink module ports or SFP+network ports configured as VCPs to form a Virtual Chassis.
	Junos OS Release 11.1	A mixed Virtual Chassis supports up to two EX4500 switches and up to eight EX4200 switches. EX4500 switches must always be configured in the master and backup roles.
	Junos OS Releases 11.2 and 11.3	A mixed Virtual Chassis supports up to two EX4500 switches and up to eight EX4200 switches. The same type of switch must act in the master and backup roles. If an EX4200 switch is configured in the master role, for instance, an EX4200 switch must also be configured in the backup role.
	Junos OS Release 11.4 or later	A mixed Virtual Chassis supports up to ten total EX4200 and EX4500 switches. Any switch can be configured in any role in any configuration. If an EX4500 switch is configured in the master role, for instance, an EX4200 or an EX4500 switch can be configured in the backup role.

Table 2 describes the cabling requirements for a Virtual Chassis.

Table 2: Cabling Requirements for a Virtual Chassis

Distance Between Virtual Chassis Members	Virtual Chassis Cable Length Supported	Details
Up to 0.5 m	0.5 m	You can interconnect EX4200 and EX4500 switches into a Virtual Chassis through Virtual Chassis ports (VCPs) using the 0.5-meter Virtual Chassis cable. This Virtual Chassis cable is supplied with an EX4200 switch. You must order this cable separately for EX4500 switches, including those with a preinstalled Virtual Chassis module.
0.5 m through 5 m	1 m 3 m 5 m	You must order these cables separately for EX4200 and EX4500 switches, including EX4500 switches with preinstalled Virtual Chassis module.
Greater than 5 m	-	To interconnect EX4200 switches that are installed farther apart than 5 m, you must configure the SFP, SPF+, or XFP uplink module ports or the SFP network ports in the EX4200-24F switch as VCPs and use them to interconnect the switches. To interconnect EX4500 switches that are installed farther apart than 5 m, you must configure either the uplink module ports or the SFP+ network ports as VCPs and use them to interconnect the switches.

Distance Between Virtual Chassis Members

Virtual Chassis Cable Length Supported

Details

Up to 0.5 m

0.5 m

You can interconnect EX4200 and EX4500 switches into a Virtual Chassis through Virtual Chassis ports (VCPs) using the 0.5-meter Virtual Chassis cable.

This Virtual Chassis cable is supplied with an EX4200 switch.
You must order this cable separately for EX4500 switches, including those with a preinstalled Virtual Chassis module.

0.5 m through 5 m

You must order these cables separately for EX4200 and EX4500 switches, including EX4500 switches with preinstalled Virtual Chassis module.

Greater than 5 m

To interconnect EX4200 switches that are installed farther apart than 5 m, you must configure the SFP, SPF+, or XFP uplink module ports or the SFP network ports in the EX4200-24F switch as VCPs and use them to interconnect the switches.
To interconnect EX4500 switches that are installed farther apart than 5 m, you must configure either the uplink module ports or the SFP+ network ports as VCPs and use them to interconnect the switches.

Note: If you order Virtual Chassis cables separately, you must either reuse the cable connector retainers provided with the original cable or order Virtual Chassis cable connector retainers separately.

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Planning EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis

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Published: 2012-01-26