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Planning a Virtual Chassis Deployment using QFX Devices

You can deploy QFX Series switches as members in three types of Virtual Chassis:

  • QFX Virtual Chassis (QFX3500, QFX3600, QFX5100, and EX4300)

  • QFX5110 Virtual Chassis (QFX5110 and QFX5100)

  • QFX5200 Virtual Chassis (QFX5200-32C only)

QFX Virtual Chassis and QFX5110 Virtual Chassis allow you to interconnect a mixture of up to ten switches into one logical device and manage the device as a single chassis. QFX5200 Virtual Chassis is limited to three QFX5200-32C members.

A Virtual Chassis configuration has two Routing Engines—the primary switch and the backup switch. All other participating switches operate as line cards. You create a Virtual Chassis by cabling the switches in a ring topology and configuring SFP+, QSFP+, or QSFP28 interfaces into Virtual Chassis ports (VCPs). VCPs are responsible for passing all data and control traffic between member switches in the Virtual Chassis. All non-channelized QSFP28 or QSFP+ uplink interfaces on the switches can be configured into VCPs. All fixed SFP+ interfaces can also be configured into VCPs.

All members of the Virtual Chassis are required to run the same Junos OS Release. You can check the version and release by issuing the show chassis version CLI command.

This topic covers:

Valid Configurations for a QFX Virtual Chassis

Valid configurations are:

  • All QFX5100 members (homogenous)–Supported QFX5100 models are:

    • QFX5100-24Q

    • QFX5100-48S

    • QFX5100-48T

    • QFX5100-96S

  • All QFX3600 members (homogenous)

  • All QFX3500 members (homogenous)

  • A mixture of QFX3600 and QFX3500 members (heterogeneous)

  • A mixture of QFX5100, QFX3600, and QFX3500 members (heterogeneous)–use the QFX5100 switches as primary RE and backup RE whenever possible.

  • A mixture of QFX5100, QFX3600, QFX3500, and EX4300 members (heterogeneous). EX4300 switches as the primary RE or backup RE is not supported; use QFX5100 switches in these roles whenever possible.

An all EX4300 member is simply considered an EX4300 Virtual Chassis. See Understanding EX Series Virtual Chassis.

If the QSFP+ interfaces are not available for VCP, 10-Gigbit interfaces can be used.

Valid Configurations for a QFX5110 Virtual Chassis

Valid configurations are:

  • All QFX5110 members (homogenous)–Supported QFX5110 models are:

    • QFX5110-32Q

    • QFX5110-48S

  • A mixture of QFX5110 and QFX5100 members (homogenous)–use the QFX5110 models as the primary RE and backup RE. Use the following QFX5100 switches in the line card role:

    • QFX5100-24Q

    • QFX5100-48S

    • QFX5100-48T

    • QFX5100-96S

Valid Configurations for a QFX5200 Virtual Chassis

You can create an all QFX5200-32C Virtual Chassis with up to three members. Use the QFX5200-32C in all three member roles: primary RE, backup RE, and line card. Configure the Virtual Chassis Ports (VCPs) as 40-Gigabit Ethernet only. QFX5200-48Y is not supported in a QFX5200 Virtual Chassis.

VC Deployment Checklist

Use Table 1 to plan your deployment:

Table 1: Deployment Checklist

Item or Task

For More Information

Performed By

Date

Components

Determine the number of devices in the Virtual Chassis and the role of each device (primary RE, backup RE, or linecard).

Note:

A Virtual Chassis is not constrained to a single building; the limits for the optic cable are the only consideration.

Understanding QFX Series Virtual Chassis

Understanding Virtual Chassis Components

 

 

Environment

Evaluate the provisioning options and determine the configuration method that applies to your deployment.

Configuring an EX4650 or a QFX Series Virtual Chassis

 

 

Power

Measure the distance between external power sources and switch installation site.

 

 

 

Calculate the power consumption and requirements.

QFX5110 AC Power Specifications

AC Power Specifications for a QFX5100 Device

AC Power Specifications for a QFX3600 or QFX3600-I Device

AC Power Specifications for a QFX3500 Device

AC Power Specifications for an EX4600 Switch

AC Power Supply Specifications for EX4300 Switches

 

 

Rack or Cabinet

Verify that your rack or cabinet meets the minimum requirements for the installation of the switch.

QFX5110 Rack Requirements

Rack Requirements for a QFX5100 Device

Cabinet Requirements for a QFX5100 Device

Rack Requirements for a QFX3600 or QFX3600-I Device

Cabinet Requirements for a QFX3600 or QFX3600-I Device

Rack Requirements for a QFX3500 Device

Cabinet Requirements for a QFX3500 Device

Rack Requirements for an EX4600 Switch

Cabinet Requirements for an EX4600 Switch

Rack Requirements for a EX4300 Device

Cabinet Requirements for a EX4300 Device

 

 

Plan rack or cabinet location, including required space clearances.

Clearance Requirements for Airflow and Hardware Maintenance for a QFX5100 Device

Clearance Requirements for Airflow and Hardware Maintenance for a QFX3600 or QFX3600-I Device

Clearance Requirements for Airflow and Hardware Maintenance for a QFX3500 Device

Clearance Requirements for Airflow and Hardware Maintenance for an EX4600 Switch

Clearance Requirements for Airflow and Hardware Maintenance for EX4300 Switches

 

 

Secure the rack or cabinet to the floor and building structure.

 

 

 

Cables

Acquire cables and connectors:

  • Determine the number of cables needed based on your planned configuration.

  • Review the maximum distance allowed for each cable. Choose the length of cable based on the distance between the hardware components being connected.

 

 

Plan the cable routing and management.