You can install EX 4200 switches in a single rack or multiple racks, or in different wiring closets, and interconnect them to form a virtual chassis. There are two dedicated virtual chassis ports (VCPs) on the rear panel of the EX 4200 switch that are used exclusively to interconnect EX 4200 switches as a virtual chassis. The physical location of the switches in a virtual chassis is restricted only by the maximum length supported for cables to connect the VCPs. The maximum cable length for interconnecting the dedicated VCPs is 3 meters. If you want to interconnect EX 4200 switches that are located beyond the reach of the dedicated VCP cables, you can install the EX-UM-2XFP uplink module and set the uplink ports as VCP interfaces. See Setting an Uplink Port as a Virtual Chassis Port (CLI Procedure).
Note: The interfaces for the two dedicated VCPs are operational by default. However, if you are using the uplink module ports as VCPs, you must explicitly set the uplink ports to function as VCPs. |
The following illustrations describe various cabling configuration examples. The available bandwidth will be higher changes depending on the type of topology.
Note: A ring topology in a virtual chassis configuration provides up to 128 Gbps of bandwidth between member switches. In a chain topology virtual chassis configuration, the bandwidth is limited to 64 Gbps between two member switches. |
Figure 28 and Figure 29 show five EX 4200 switches stacked vertically in a rack and interconnected in a ring topology using four short virtual chassis cables and one long virtual chassis cable.
Figure 28: EX 4200 Switches Virtual Chassis—Mounted on a Single Rack and Connected in a Ring Topology—Short and Long Cables, Option 1
Figure 29: EX 4200 Switches Virtual Chassis—Mounted on a Single Rack and Connected in a Ring Topology—Short and Long Cables, Option 2
Figure 30 shows five EX 4200 switches stacked vertically in a rack and interconnected in a ring topology using short-length and medium-length virtual chassis cables.
Figure 30: EX 4200 Switches Virtual Chassis—Mounted on a Single Rack and Connected in a Ring Topology—Short and Medium Cables
Figure 31 and Figure 32 show five EX 4200 switches mounted on the top rows of adjacent racks and interconnected in a ring topology using medium-length and long-length virtual chassis cables.
Figure 31: EX 4200 Switches Virtual Chassis—Mounted on Adjacent Racks and Connected in a Ring Topology—Medium and Long Cables, Option 1
Figure 32: EX 4200 Switches Virtual Chassis—Mounted on Adjacent Racks and Connected in a Ring Topology—Medium and Long Cables, Option 2
Figure 33 shows five EX 4200 switches mounted on the top rows of adjacent racks and interconnected in a chain topology using medium-length virtual chassis cables.
Figure 33: EX 4200 Switches Virtual Chassis—Mounted on Adjacent Racks and Connected in a Chain Topology—Medium Cables