Wired Intelligent Edge

Greetings!

We're kicking off 2020 by releasing our latest best practices guide — this time, we're covering VSF deployment and maintenance on the Aruba CX 6300 switch family. Deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot 6300 VSF stacks using either the Aruba CX mobile app or switch CLI.

As always, feel free to provide feedback or suggestions in this thread!

Attachment(s)

AOS-CX VSF Best Practices.pdf   565 KB 1 version

Hi,

Thanks Matthew !

(the link on ASP don't work... redirect to HPE Internal Web site : https://asp.arubanetworks.com/downloads/documents/RmlsZTpkZjUxY2E5MC0yZDgyLTExZWEtOTBjNS03NzgwYTEwNTMzODM%3D )

Should it be possible to stack switches with copper cables? At least the mobile app doesn't seem to recognize other member if I use 1Gbps ethernet from ports 23 -> 24 and 24 -> 23.

Asking as I haven't received the proper DAC cables yet but would like to try VSF

Only the SFP56 ports can be used for VSF links.

Is there a 'unsupported-transceiver' command for 6300F :)? 

Contacted today with our presales engineer and the answer is "not yet"

Hi Matt

Am I reading it right that these new products do not have a method for an 'in service' or fast software upgrade when the switches are stacked in pair..  or am I missing something in the documentation/oversight in the documentation?

Thanks

Yes no ISSU or fast software upgrade on 6300

My experience with 6300M VSF:

- Configure everything either manually or using the Mobile App

- Everything is working

- Remove power from the switches.

- Connect the switches to power

- Wait

- Only master works; all others get stuck on boot.

What release ?

FL.10.04.0030

do you have open a cases to TAC ?

no need for TAC.

Cli:

write memory

App:

Copy running to startup

Tried both methods.

And as told, Master does have configuration. Hostname is set, vsf links are set, etc.

It's only the Slaves that do not keep the config. They get stuck on boot. If I CTRL+C the boot proceeds, but the switch config is empy.

Only way to recover the switches is to wipe to factory defaults (erase zeroise).

ok, thank you for such clarification.

Then, indeed, a case must be opened.

You need to do a "copy running startup" before power-off.

This  is achieved on the CX mobile app here attached.

Yes, the configuration is saved.

Master config is intact after power-down / power-up.

Only secondary and slaves get stuck.

How did you save configuration before power-off ?

Hi,

It was confirmed on this thread that the copper ports on the 6300 devices cannot be used to form the VSF link as the SFP56 ports are the only ones supported for such feature, however I would like to know if this restriction applies to the 6300M JL658A  (use any of the SFP+ ports for VSF link).

Also, is it still recommended to have a "chain" topology in a 2 member VSF (I can inherit it from the guide "If the stack will contain more than two members, configure VSF link 2 as well:", however it is not specifically indicated).

Thanks.

What is the best way to form a two switch stack of CX6300?

This works:

vsf member 1

link 1 1/1/49-1/1/50

vsf member 2

link 1 1/149-1/1/50

This doesn't work:

vsf member 1

link 1 1/1/49

link 2 1/1/50

vsf member 2

link 1 1/1/50

link 2 1/1/49

We would like to use the second form for two reasons, it makes it easier to add additional switches to the stack. Also, the SHOW VSF TOPO command will show all the interconnects.

How do we get the second form of stacking working for two switches?

We are using the latest firmware (10.04.3011) on the switches.

Thanks

@tony.mcmillan wrote: We would like to use the second form for two reasons, it makes it easier to add additional switches to the stack. Also, the SHOW VSF TOPO command will show all the interconnects.

Hi, why do you think it will be easier to add additional switches to a VSF Stack made of a pair connected with two VSF Links (remember that the rule about the amount of VSF Links is: one VSF Link if you're dealing with a 2 members stack, two VSF Links if you're dealing with more than 2 members stack).

With a two VSF Members stack the correct way to go is (as example):

vsf member 1
link 1 1/1/49-1/1/50
vsf member 2
link 1 1/1/49-1/1/50

because you're dealing with a chain (a single link chain where the single logical VSF Link - link 1 - is made of two physical interfaces).

Please refer to the ArubaOS-CX Virtual Switching Framework (VSF) Guide for Aruba CX 6200, 6300 Switch Series available here and also to the VSF Best Practices Guide for the Aruba CX 6300 Switch Series available here.

AFAIK the vsf show topology command (try also show vsf link) will show the interconnects correctly when you're dealing with just a single VSF Link too (2 members VSF Stack).

First, coming from the Cisco world, I have implemented a ring topology with just two switches for a couple of decades. It was not apparent that I couldn't do this with the CX line. 

Due to this requirement, when it comes to adding the third switch, I must reconfigure the first two switches by disabling a port and removing it from link 1 on each switch. Then add the port to link 2 and enable the port on each switch. It's not hard but, it is a number of steps.

If a ring topology were supported with two switches, I'd merely have to configure two links on the new (third switch) and insert it in the ring. 

Since I am new to the Aruba line, please correct me where I am mistaken on this topic.

Best,

Tony

Yes, i confirm Tony

(and Yes, it will be better to have directly ring with 2 switches..)

vsf member 1
link 1 1/1/49-1/1/50
vsf member 2
link 1 1/1/49-1/1/50

That is a lot of manual configuration.  Can I simply not add/define the VSF members on the Primary Switch and then connect the links however I want?  Defining links like this is necessary?

Got it, I guess a little different way of doing it from what I am used to.  Thank you for elaborating.  So since this is front port stacking and using the regular uplink ports, they will start participating in STP unless I link them for the VSF. 

In that case I should be able to simply unplug and re arrange cables to add a third member easily no?

Will need to do some testing with the physical equipment to gather more data/information.

------------------------------
Mohammad Ali
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vsf member 1link 1 1/1/49-1/1/50vsf member 2link 1 1/1/49-1/1/50