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Configuring a Mixed Virtual Chassis with EX4200, EX4500, and EX4550 Member Switches (CLI Procedure)

This topic explains how to configure a mixed Virtual Chassis composed of any combination of EX4200, EX4500, and EX4550 switches. For information on configuring an EX4200 Virtual Chassis, EX4500 Virtual Chassis, or EX4550 Virtual Chassis, see Configuring an EX4200, EX4500, or EX4550 Virtual Chassis (CLI Procedure).

You can configure the following mixed Virtual Chassis:

  • Mixed EX4200 and EX4500 Virtual Chassis

  • Mixed EX4200 and EX4550 Virtual Chassis

  • Mixed EX4200, EX4500, and EX4550 Virtual Chassis

  • Mixed EX4500 and EX4550 Virtual Chassis

You can configure up to ten member switches in all mixed Virtual Chassis composed of EX4200, EX4500, and EX4550 switches. You can interconnect and mix any model of EX4200, EX4500, or EX4550 switch into the same mixed Virtual Chassis, and any EX4200, EX4500, or EX4500 switch can assume the primary, backup, or linecard role. You can interconnect the member switches using the dedicated Virtual Chassis ports (VCPs) or by configuring optical ports as VCPs.

This procedure uses a preprovisioned Virtual Chassis configuration. A preprovisioned configuration allows you to deterministically control the member ID and role assigned to a member switch by tying it to its serial number.

Nonprovisioned configuration is also supported for a mixed Virtual Chassis configuration. In a nonprovisioned configuration, the primary sequentially assigns a member ID to other member switches and the other member switches roles are determined by the primary-role priority value and other factors in the primary-role election algorithm. See Understanding How the Primary in a Virtual Chassis Is Elected.

Ensure that all switches are running the same version of Junos OS. See Installing Software on an EX Series Switch with a Virtual Chassis or Single Routing Engine (CLI Procedure).

To configure a mixed Virtual Chassis:

  1. Make a list of the serial numbers of all the switches to be connected in the Virtual Chassis. You can get the serial numbers in the show chassis hardware output or by following the instructions in Locating the Serial Number on an EX4200 Switch or Component, Locating the Serial Number on an EX4500 Switch or Component, or Locating the Serial Number on an EX4550 Switch or Component.
  2. Decide which switches you want to act in the primary and backup roles. See Understanding Virtual Chassis Components.
  3. Power and log in to the switch that you want to function in the primary role. If the switch has not previously been configured, configure it. See Connecting and Configuring an EX Series Switch (CLI Procedure).
  4. Power and log in to the switch that you want to function in the backup role. If the switch has not previously been configured, configure it. See Connecting and Configuring an EX Series Switch (CLI Procedure).
  5. Power on all other member switches.
  6. (EX4500 switches only) Verify the PIC mode setting:
  7. (EX4500 switches only) If the PIC mode was not set to Virtual Chassis mode, set the PIC mode to Virtual Chassis mode:
    Note:

    This step is required if you are using the dedicated VCPs on the Virtual Chassis module to connect the Virtual Chassis.

    The PIC mode setting has no impact on optical ports that are configured as VCPs.

  8. (Mixed Virtual Chassis with EX4200 switches only) Set the Virtual Chassis mode to mixed on all member switches if your mixed Virtual Chassis includes EX4200 switches:
  9. If the PIC mode or the mixed mode was changed in step 7 or step 8, reboot each member switch:

    You can skip this step and proceed to step 11 if you did not change the PIC mode or the mixed mode.

  10. After you have rebooted the switches, log into the switch that you powered on first. This switch is the primary switch.
  11. Run the EZSetup program on the primary switch, specifying the identification parameters. See Connecting and Configuring an EX Series Switch (CLI Procedure).
    Note:

    The properties that you specify for the primary switch apply to the entire Virtual Chassis.

  12. (Optional) On the primary switch, configure the virtual management Ethernet (VME) interface for out-of-band management of the Virtual Chassis, if desired:
  13. On the primary switch, specify the preprovisioned configuration mode:
  14. On the primary switch, specify all members for the Virtual Chassis configuration, listing each switch’s serial number with the desired member ID and the desired role.
    Note:

    The routing-engine role can be assigned to any member switch, unless otherwise noted.

    The routing-engine role can be assigned to any member switch in a mixed Virtual Chassis starting in Junos OS Release 11.4.

    Ensure that you assign the routing-engine role to two members that are the same type of switch if you are running Junos OS Release 11.2 or 11.3..

    Ensure that you assign only the routing-engine role to EX4500 member switches if you are running Junos OS Release 11.1.

  15. Interconnect the member switches by using either the dedicated VCPs on the member switches (see Connecting a Virtual Chassis Cable to an EX4200 Switch or Connecting a Virtual Chassis Cable to an EX4500 Switch) or by connecting them through the optical ports that you have configured as VCPs (see Setting an Uplink Port on an EX Series or QFX Series Switch as a Virtual Chassis Port or Setting an Uplink Port as a Virtual Chassis Port on an EX4500 or EX4550 Switch (CLI Procedure)).
Note:

You cannot modify the primary-role priority when you are using a preprovisioned configuration. The primary-role priority values are generated automatically and controlled by the role that is assigned to the member switch in the configuration file.

For information on adding a switch to an existing Virtual Chassis or configuring a Virtual Chassis port (VCP) to connect member switches over long distances, see Related Documentation.

Related Documentation