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Adding a New Switch to an Existing Virtual Chassis Configuration (CLI Procedure)

You can add one or more EX 4200 switches to an existing Virtual Chassis configuration. Up to ten EX 4200 switches can be included within a Virtual Chassis configuration.

To add a switch to an existing Virtual Chassis configuration, use the procedure that matches what you need to accomplish:

Adding a New Switch to an Existing Virtual Chassis Configuration Within the Same Wiring Closet

Before you begin, be sure you have:

  • Installed the hardware components.
  • Mounted the new switch in a rack.
  • Confirmed that the new switch is powered off.
  • If you are expanding a preprovisioned configuration, made a note of the serial number (on the back of the switch). You will need to edit the Virtual Chassis configuration to include the serial number of the new member switch.
  • If you are expanding a preprovisioned configuration, edited the existing Virtual Chassis configuration to include the serial number of the new member switch.

To add a new member switch to an existing Virtual Chassis configuration within the same wiring closet:

  1. If the new member switch has been previously configured, revert that switch’s configuration to the factory defaults. See Reverting to the Default Factory Configuration for the EX-series Switch.
  2. Interconnect the unpowered new switch to at least one member of the existing Virtual Chassis configuration, using the dedicated Virtual Chassis ports (VCPs).
  3. Power on the new switch.
  4. Confirm that the new member switch is now included within the Virtual Chassis configuration by checking the front-panel display for the member ID. It should display a member ID that is higher than 0 (1 through 9), because there is already at least one member of the Virtual Chassis configuration.

    Note: If you are using a preprovisioned configuration, the member ID is assigned to the member’s serial number in the configuration file.

Adding a New Switch from a Different Wiring Closet to an Existing Virtual Chassis Configuration

To add a new switch from a different wiring closet to an existing Virtual Chassis configuration, you must use a longer cable to connect the new member switch across wiring closets. A port on an XFP, SFP, or SFP+ uplink module and fiber-optic cable can be used for this purpose. The uplink module ports on both sides of the link must be configured as Virtual Chassis port (VCPs). The new member switch in the other wiring closet must first be powered on as a standalone switch in order to configure its uplink module ports as VCPs. Otherwise, it cannot be recognized as a member switch by the master.

Before you begin, be sure you have:

  • Installed the hardware components.
  • Mounted the new switch in a rack.
  • If the new member switch has been previously configured, reverted to factory defaults. See Reverting to the Default Factory Configuration for the EX-series Switch.
  • If you are expanding a preprovisioned configuration, made a note of the serial number (on the back of the switch). You will need to edit the Virtual Chassis configuration to include the serial number of the new member switch.
  • If you are expanding a preprovisioned configuration, edited the existing Virtual Chassis configuration to include the serial number of the new member switch. You can specify the role of the new member switch when you add its serial number in the Virtual Chassis configuration file. The parameters specified in the master Virtual Chassis configuration file are applied after the new member switch has been interconnected with its uplink VCP.
  • Confirmed that the new, currently standalone switch is powered off.
  • Prepared an existing member for interconnecting with the new switch through an uplink module port by configuring an uplink module port as a VCP on the existing member.

To add a new member switch that is going to be interconnected with the existing Virtual Chassis configuration across wiring closets:

  1. Power on the new switch.
  2. Connect a laptop or terminal to the console port of the switch, or use EZSetup on the standalone switch to specify temporary identification parameters. (When you interconnect the new member switch with the existing Virtual Chassis configuration, the master will overwrite and disable any specified parameters that conflict with the Virtual Chassis parameters or assigned member configuration.)
  3. Use the CLI or the J-Web interface to set the uplink module ports as VCP interfaces.

    Note: If you are using a nonprovisioned configuration, you may wish to configure the new member switch with a mastership priority value that is less than that of the existing member switches. Doing so ensures that the new member switch will function in a linecard role when it is included within the Virtual Chassis configuration.

  4. Power off the new switch.
  5. Interconnect the new member switch to at least one member of the existing Virtual Chassis configuration, using the uplink module ports that have been configured as VCPs.
  6. Power on the new member switch.
  7. Confirm that the new member switch is now included within the Virtual Chassis configuration by checking the front-panel display for the member ID. It should display a member ID that is higher than 0 (1 through 9), because there is already at least one member of the Virtual Chassis configuration.

    Note: If you are using a preprovisioned configuration, the member ID is assigned to the member's serial number in the configuration file.

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