 Introduction

 Some key point to be remembered for Cisco 4500 VSS

 Prerequisite
 Configuration Steps
 Verification
 Reference

Introduction
The Cisco Virtual Switching System is a clustering technology that pools two Cisco
Catalyst 4500-E Series Switches with Cisco Catalyst Supervisor Engine 7-E or 7-LE
or two Catalyst 4500-X Series Switches into a single virtual switch. In a VSS, the
data plane of both clustered switches is active at the same time in both chassis.
VSS members are connected by virtual switch links (VSLs) using standard Gigabit
or 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections between the VSS members. VSLs can carry
regular user traffic in addition to the control plane communication between the VSS
members.

Physical vs Logical Topology in a VSS Configuration

This document describes how to configure a virtual switching system (VSS) for the
Catalyst 4500 series switch (Supervisor Engine 7-E, Supervisor Engine 7L-E).

Some key point to be remembered for Cisco 4500 VSS

1) Configuration/Capability Supported supervisors on Catalyst 4500-E: VSS support
Supervisor Engine 7-E or 7-LE (identical pairs).For more information about
hardware to support please refer 4500 VSS Hardware requirement

2) Software requirement: Cisco IOS XE 3.4.0SG and ROMMON IOS Version

15.0(1r) SG7 later released support VSS.(Also refer How to Upgrade Cisco 4500
SUP7-E & Sup7L-E ROMMON To support VSS).

3)license requirement : 

To know more on license requirement refer "Release Notes for the Catalyst 4500E
Series Switch"

LAN Enterprise
Feature IP Base
Base Service

Virtual Switching System (VSS

Yes
No (SUP7E Yes
only)

Support for Layer 3 MEC—VSS with Layer 3

Multichassis EtherChannel (MEC) at the
aggregation layer
Yes Yes
Support for VSLP Fast Hello—With VSLP Fast
(SUP7E) (SUP7E)
Hello, the Catalyst 4500-X configured for VSS
No
can now connect Access Switches that do not
support the ePAgP protocol. No Yes
(SUP7LE) (SUP7LE)
Support for VSL Encryption

Support for Asymmetrix chassis

For information about Software Activation Licensing please refer Cisco Catalyst

4500E Supervisor 7-E and 7L-E and Cisco Catalyst 4500-X Series Software
Activation Licensing Deployment Guide.

4) Single-sup cross-chassis VSS support: Yes.

5) Quad-sup VSS configuration with in-chassis redundant sups: In-chassis

redundant sups in rommon mode with active uplinks.
6) It also supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet Virtual Switch Link (VSL) and 1 Gigabit
Ethernet VSL.

7) SSO and nonstop forwarding (NSF) must be configured on each switch. If a VSS
does not meet the requirements for SSO redundancy; it will be incapable of
establishing a relationship with the peer switch. Catalyst 4500/4500-X series
switches' VSS does not support route processor redundancy (RPR) mode.

Prerequisite
Before configuring VSS on Cisco 4500 please verify hardware and software
requirement.

SW1#sh ver | in IOS

Cisco IOS Software, IOS-XE Software, Catalyst 4500 L3 Switch Software
(cat4500e-UNIVERSAL-M), Version 03.04.00.SG RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc3)
Cisco IOS-XE software, Copyright (c) 2005-2010, 2012 by cisco Systems,
Inc.
All rights reserved. Certain components of Cisco IOS-XE software are
documentation or "License Notice" file accompanying the IOS-XE
software,
or the applicable URL provided on the flyer accompanying the IOS-XE

SW1#sh ver | in ROM

ROM: 15.0(1r)SG7
System returned to ROM by power-on

SW1#sh license image levels

Module name       Image level Priority Configured Valid license
--------------------------------------------------------------------
WS-X45-SUP7-E     entservices  1         YES        entservices      
                  ipbase       2         NO         ipbase            
                  lanbase      3         NO         lanbase  
 
Module Name     Role           Current Level     Reboot Level
--------------------------------------------------------------------
WS-X45-SUP7-E  Active         entservices       entservices

SW2#sh ver | in IOS

Cisco IOS Software, IOS-XE Software, Catalyst 4500 L3 Switch Software
(cat4500e-UNIVERSAL-M), Version 03.04.00.SG RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc3)
Cisco IOS-XE software, Copyright (c) 2005-2010, 2012 by cisco Systems,
Inc.
All rights reserved. Certain components of Cisco IOS-XE software are
documentation or "License Notice" file accompanying the IOS-XE
software,
or the applicable URL provided on the flyer accompanying the IOS-XE

SW2#sh ver | in ROM

ROM: 15.0(1r)SG7
System returned to ROM by power-on

SW2#sh license image levels

Module name       Image level Priority Configured Valid license
--------------------------------------------------------------------
WS-X45-SUP7-E     entservices  1         YES        entservices      
                  ipbase       2         NO         ipbase            
                  lanbase      3         NO         lanbase

Module Name     Role           Current Level     Reboot Level

--------------------------------------------------------------------
WS-X45-SUP7-E   Active        entservices       entservices

Configuration Steps
STEP1: Assigning Virtual Switch Domain and Switch Numbers

First you have to configure the same virtual switch domain number on both switches
of the VSS. The virtual switch domain is a number between 1 and 255.After domain
number you must configure one switch to be switch number 1 and the other switch
to be switch number 2.

SW1#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
SW1(config)#switch virtual domain 10
Domain ID 10 config will take effect only
after the exec command 'switch convert mode virtual' is issued
SW1(config-vs-domain)#switch 1
SW1(config-vs-domain)#exit
SW1(config)#

SW2#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
SW2(config)#switch virtual domain 10
Domain ID 10 config will take effect only
after the exec command 'switch convert mode virtual' is issued
SW2(config-vs-domain)#switch 2
SW2(config-vs-domain)#exit
SW2(config)#

STEP2: Configuring VSL Port Channel

Then you need to configure VSL with a unique port channel on each switch. During
the conversion, the VSS configures both port channels on the VSS Active switch. If
the VSS Standby switch VSL port channel number has been configured for another
use, the VSS comes up in RPR mode. To avoid this situation, check that both port
channel numbers are available on both of the switches.

SW1(config)#int port-channel 5
SW1(config-if)#switchport
SW1(config-if)#switch virtual link 1
SW1(config-if)#no shut
SW1(config-if)#exit
*Jan 24 05:19:57.092: %SPANTREE-6-PORTDEL_ALL_VLANS: Port-channel5
deleted from all Vlans

SW2(config)#int port-channel 10
SW2(config-if)#switchport
SW2(config-if)#switch virtual link 2
SW2(config-if)#no shut
SW2(config-if)#exit
SW2(config)#
*Jan 24 05:14:17.273: %SPANTREE-6-PORTDEL_ALL_VLANS: Port-channel10
deleted from all Vlans

STEP3: configure the VSL ports

You need to add the VSL physical ports to the port channel. In the following
example, interfaces Gigabit Ethernet 7/3 and 7/4 on Switch 1 are connected to
interfaces Gigabit Ethernet 4/45 and 4/46 on Switch 2.

SW1(config)#int range gig7/3 - 4

SW1(config-if-range)#switchport mode trunk
SW1(config-if-range)#channel-group 5 mode on
WARNING: Interface GigabitEthernet7/3 placed in restricted config
mode. All extraneous configs removed!
WARNING: Interface GigabitEthernet7/4 placed in restricted config
mode. All extraneous configs removed!
SW1(config-if-range)#exit

SW2(config)#int range gig4/45 - 46

SW2(config-if-range)#switchport mode trunk
SW2(config-if-range)#channel-group 10 mode on
WARNING: Interface GigabitEthernet4/45 placed in restricted config
mode. All extraneous configs removed!
WARNING: Interface GigabitEthernet4/46 placed in restricted config
mode. All extraneous configs removed!
SW2(config-if-range)#exit

Note: Once the interfaces are put into VSL port-channel with “channel-

group" command, then the interfaces goes into “notconnect” status. Interface
status will show UP, but the line protocol will be down. The interface will be in
UP/down (not connect) status, till the switch is rebooted in step 4.

STEP4: Converting the Switch to Virtual Switch Mode:

You need to enter the “switch convert mode virtual” command on Switch 1 for

Converting to Virtual Switch Mode .After you enter this command it will prompted to
confirm the action. Enter yes. The system creates a converted configuration file,
and saves the file to the bootflash:

SW1#switch convert mode virtual

This command will convert all interface names

to naming convention "interface-type switch-number/slot/port",
save the running config to startup-config and
reload the switch.
Do you want to proceed? [yes/no]: yes
Converting interface names
Building configuration...
Compressed configuration from 6551 bytes to 2893 bytes[OK]
Saving converted configuration to bootflash: ...
Destination filename [startup-config.converted_vs-20130124-062921]?
Please stand by while rebooting the system...
Restarting system.
Rommon (G) Signature verification PASSED
Rommon (P) Signature verification PASSED
FPGA   (P) Signature verification PASSED

Similarly you need to enter the “switch convert mode virtual” command on

Switch 2 for converting to Virtual Switch Mode.

SW2#switch convert mode virtual

This command will convert all interface names

to naming convention "interface-type switch-number/slot/port",
save the running config to startup-config and
reload the switch.
Do you want to proceed? [yes/no]: yes
Converting interface names
Building configuration...
Compressed configuration from 6027 bytes to 2774 bytes[OK]
Saving converted configuration to bootflash: ...
Destination filename [startup-config.converted_vs-20130124-052526]?
Please stand by while rebooting the system...
Restarting system.

Rommon (G) Signature verification PASSED

Rommon (P) Signature verification PASSED

FPGA   (P) Signature verification PASSED

************************************************************
*                                                          *
* Welcome to Rom Monitor for   WS-X45-SUP7-E System.       *
* Copyright (c) 2008-2012 by Cisco Systems, Inc.           *
* All rights reserved.                                     *
*                                                          *
************************************************************

After you confirm the above commands on both switches, the running configuration
is automatically saved as the startup configuration and the switch reboots. After the
reboot, the switch is in virtual switch mode, so you must specify interfaces with
three identifiers (switch/module/port).
When switches are being converted to VSS, you should not set them to ignore
startup-config. If done, the switch can be enabled to parse the startup-config at the
rommon prompt. Ignoring startup-config in VSS mode causes a switch to boot in a
semi-VSS mode, which can only be corrected by a reboot and by enabling the
parsing of startup-config.

Verification
1) To displays the virtual switch domain number, and the switch number and role for
each of the switches you can use “show switch virtual” command.

SW1#sh switch virtual

Executing the command on VSS member switch role = VSS Active, id = 1

Switch mode                  : Virtual Switch

Virtual switch domain number : 10
Local switch number          : 1
Local switch operational role: Virtual Switch Active
Peer switch number           : 2
Peer switch operational role : Virtual Switch Standby

Executing the command on VSS member switch role = VSS Standby, id = 2

Switch mode                  : Virtual Switch

Virtual switch domain number : 10
Local switch number          : 2
Local switch operational role: Virtual Switch Standby
Peer switch number           : 1
Peer switch operational role : Virtual Switch Active

2) Once both switches cluster in single virtual switch, you will only have Active
switch console and your Standby switch console appears as follow:

SW2-standby>
Standby console disabled

3) To displays the role, switch number, and priority for each of the switch in the VSS
use “show switch virtual role” command.

SW1#sh switch virtual role

Executing the command on VSS member switch role = VSS Active, id = 1

RRP information for Instance 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Valid Flags   Peer     Preferred Reserved
               Count     Peer       Peer

--------------------------------------------------------------------
TRUE   V       1           1         1

Switch Switch Status Preempt       Priority Role     Local   Remote

       Number         Oper(Conf)   Oper(Conf)         SID     SID
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LOCAL   1     UP     FALSE(N )     100(100) ACTIVE   0       0
REMOTE  2     UP     FALSE(N )     100(100) STANDBY 6834   6152

Peer 0 represents the local switch

Flags : V - Valid
In dual-active recovery mode: No

Executing the command on VSS member switch role = VSS Standby, id = 2

RRP information for Instance 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Valid Flags   Peer     Preferred Reserved
               Count     Peer       Peer

--------------------------------------------------------------------
TRUE    V       1           1         1

Switch Switch Status Preempt       Priority Role     Local   Remote

       Number         Oper(Conf)   Oper(Conf)         SID     SID
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LOCAL   2     UP     FALSE(N )     100(100) STANDBY  0       0
REMOTE  1     UP     FALSE(N )     100(100) ACTIVE   6152   6834

Peer 0 represents the local switch

Flags : V - Valid
In dual-active recovery mode: No

4) To Displays information about the VSL use “show switch virtual

link” command.
SW1#sh switch virtual link

Executing the command on VSS member switch role = VSS Active, id = 1

VSL Status : UP
VSL Uptime : 3 minutes
VSL Control Link : Gi1/7/4

Executing the command on VSS member switch role = VSS Standby, id = 2

VSL Status : UP
VSL Uptime : 3 minutes
VSL Control Link : Gi2/4/45

5) You can also verify information about the VSL port channel using “show switch
virtual link port-channel”command.

SW1#sh switch virtual link port-channel 

Executing the command on VSS member switch role = VSS Active, id = 1

Flags: D - down       P - bundled in port-channel

       I - stand-alone s - suspended
       H - Hot-standby (LACP only)
       R - Layer3     S - Layer2
       U - in use     N - not in use, no aggregation
       f - failed to allocate aggregator        

  M - not in use, no aggregation due to minimum links not met

       m - not in use, port not aggregated due to minimum links not
met
       u - unsuitable for bundling
       d - default port
 
  w - waiting to be aggregated

Group Port-channel Protocol   Ports

------+-------------+-----------+-------------------
5     Po5(SU)          -       Gi1/7/3(P) Gi1/7/4(P)
10    Po10(SU)         -       Gi2/4/45(P) Gi2/4/46(P)

Executing the command on VSS member switch role = VSS Standby, id = 2

Flags: D - down       P - bundled in port-channel

       I - stand-alone s - suspended
       H - Hot-standby (LACP only)
       R - Layer3     S - Layer2
       U - in use     N - not in use, no aggregation
       f - failed to allocate aggregator        
 
  M - not in use, no aggregation due to minimum links not met
       m - not in use, port not aggregated due to minimum links not
met
       u - unsuitable for bundling
       d - default port
 
w - waiting to be aggregated

Group Port-channel Protocol   Ports

------+-------------+-----------+-------------------
5     Po5(SU)          -       Gi1/7/3(P) Gi1/7/4(P)
10    Po10(SU)         -       Gi2/4/45(P) Gi2/4/46(P)

SW1#