Understanding HiGig and HGoE Modes in a Virtual Chassis

In a Virtual Chassis configuration, switches can operate in either HiGig mode or HiGig over Ethernet (HGoE) mode.

Changing the Virtual Chassis Mode

You can create a Virtual Chassis setup in one of two modes: HiGig or HiGig over Ethernet (HGoE).

To enable HGoE mode, use the following command:

To disable HGoE mode and use HiGig mode, use the following command.

Note that you must reboot the switch for the change to take effect.

Whenever you change the mode of any existing stack from HiGig mode to HGoE mode, the Virtual Chassis formation usually takes additional time to come up in HGoE mode. This is because it creates a fresh stack that results in additional convergence time.

All Virtual Chassis Ports (VCPs) simultaneously operate in either HGoE mode or HiGig mode. Mixing these two modes in a stack is not supported. It is mandatory to set up the Virtual Chassis using preprovisioned configuration when you change from HiGig mode to HGoE mode or HGoE mode to HiGig mode.

HiGig Mode

The HiGig protocol enables you to connect member switches into a single logical unit or Virtual Chassis. By default, Virtual Chassis on most switches operates in HiGig mode. HiGig mode allows you to create multiple logical VCPs or ifds in a single physical port. Disabling one of these logical ports as a VCP will disable all logical ports connected to that physical port.

Some switches have dedicated VCPs. On switches without dedicated VCPs, you can convert a specific set of ports to virtual chassis mode.

To convert network ports to VCPs, use the command:

To convert VCPs back to network ports, use the command:

Note that you must reboot the switch for the change to take effect.

In HiGig mode, you must use all of the VCPs simultaneously in either virtual chassis mode or network mode. You cannot use some of the ports in virtual chassis mode and the rest in network mode.

HGoE Mode

The HiGig protocol packets can be encapsulated in a standard Ethernet frame before they are sent out on the Virtual Chassis interface. This feature is known as HiGig over Ethernet (HGoE). You can convert the virtual chassis from HiGig mode to HGoE mode as described in Changing the Virtual Chassis Mode. In HGoE mode, each physical port comes up as a single VCP. Each physical port has a single ifd.

You can convert some of the ports to virtual chassis mode or network mode as required.

To convert network ports to VCPs, use the command:

To convert VCPs to network ports, use the command:

In HGoE mode, you can configure the VCPs as a mix of virtual chassis mode and network mode. You don't need to simultaneously use all the ports as VCPs or network ports.

HiGig and HGoE Mode Support

Different switches support different combinations of HiGig and HGoE modes for a Virtual Chassis. The table below lists the modes supported on HGoE-enabled switches.

Table 1: HiGig and HGoE Mode Support
Switch	HiGig Mode	HGoE Mode
EX4000	Yes (default)	No
EX4100	Yes (default)	Yes
EX4100-F	Yes	Yes (default)
EX4100-H	Yes	Yes (default)
EX4400 (except EX4400-24X)	Yes (default)	Yes
EX4400-24X	No	Yes (default)
EX4650	Yes (default)	No
QFX5120-48Y	Yes (default)	No
QFX5120-48YM	No	Yes (default)

HGoE Mode on EX4100 and EX4100-F Switches

By default, EX4100 and EX4100-F switches come up in HiGig mode. You can change the mode to HGoE mode as described in Changing the Virtual Chassis Mode.

In HGoE mode, the 10/25G ports (PIC 1) operate as VCPs by default. You can also use the 4x10G uplink ports (PIC 2) as VCPs, except on EX4100-F-12P and EX4100-F-12T switches. On EX4100-F-12P and EX4100-F-12T switches, the uplink ports cannot be used as VCPs. See HGoE Mode for converting VCPs to network ports and vice versa.

HGoE Mode on EX4100-H Switches

By default, EX4100-H switches come up in HGoE mode. You can change the mode to HGoE mode as described in Changing the Virtual Chassis Mode.

In HGoE mode, the 1/10G VCPs (PIC 1) operate as VCPs by default. You can also use the 1/10G uplink ports (PIC 2) as VCPs. The VCPs support both HiGig and HGoE modes, while the uplink ports can be used in a Virtual Chassis only in HGoE mode. See HGoE Mode for converting VCPs to network ports and vice versa.

HGoE Mode on EX4400 Switches

By default, EX4400 switches come up in HiGig mode. You can change the mode to HGoE mode as described in Changing the Virtual Chassis Mode.

In HGoE mode, the 100/40G ports on the rear panel (PIC 1) operate as VCPs by default. The optional 1x100G and 4x25G extension module ports (PIC 2) operate as network ports by default. 10G uplink ports are not supported as VCPs. You can convert the 100/40G ports, the 1x100G port, and the 4x25G ports to VCPs or network ports without rebooting the switch. See HGoE Mode for converting VCPs to network ports and vice versa.

You can channelize 100G network ports as 4x25G network ports. Channelization is not supported on VCPs.

HGoE Mode on EX4400-24X Switches

EX4400-24X switches support only HGoE mode for forming a Virtual Chassis.

You can use the 100G ports on the front panel (PIC 1) and the optional 1x100G and 4x25G extension module ports (PIC 2) as VCPs. 10G uplink ports are not supported as VCPs. By default, the 100G ports, the 1x100G port, and the 4x25G ports operate as network ports. See HGoE Mode for converting VCPs to network ports and vice versa.

HGoE Mode on QFX5120-48YM Switches

QFX5120-48YM switches support only HGoE mode for forming a Virtual Chassis.

You can use the 100/40G ports as VCPs if they are not channelized. By default, the 100/40G ports operate as network ports. See HGoE Mode for converting VCPs to network ports and vice versa.

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