Virtual Switching Framework – ArubaOS Switch
Q1: Does 2930M support VSF?
A: 2930M does not support VSF. 5400 & 2930F are the only devices which supports VSF for now.
Q2: 2930F will support up to 8 units on upcoming new version, won't it?
A: 2930F supports upto 8 units from version 16.06.
Q3: Does VSF have other MAD options than lacp? Any supporf for BFD available/coming (separate conncetion?
A: Apart from LACP MAD, VSF support VLAN MAD & OOBM MAD. We do not support BFD yet. There are no OOBM ports on the 2930F, it only supports VLAN-MAD and LLDP-MAD. LLDP MAD is similar to LACP MAD as it utilizes a link aggregation group.
Q4: What about HPE 1950 and Aruba 2540?
A: HP 1950 switches do not support VSF. It supports IRF
The 2540 does NOT support any form of stacking.
Q5: 1950 have some sort of port based stacking, is it VSF stacking?
A: 1950 switch does not support VSF. VSF is supported only on 2930F & 5400R.
Q6: 2930F will support up to 8 units stacked on upcoming new version, won't it?
A: 2930F will support VSF upto 8 unit from 16.06.
Q7: 1 logical link even in a ring topology?
A: A ring topology MUST have at least 2 logical links, one for a path back to the member. You would configure multiple VSF links when configuring a 4+ member VSF stack. The 5400R only supports ONE VSF link.
Q8: 1G Link CU or only SFP
A: Both 1G CU and SFP are supported.
Q9: Only the same model can join a VSF, does this mean that all 2930F in the VSF need to be 24 or 48 port model?
A: Only the same model with the same part number can Join VSF.
Starting from 16.06, The 2930F can stack with multiple SKUs, IE 48p à 8p à 24p, it doesn’t matter if it’s POE or non POE.
Q10: What’s the limit on 40Gb links between two 5400 chassis switches?
A: There is no limit for 40G in 5400. You can still be able to use 8 Ports to form VSF.
Q11: Is ISSU upgrades planned with VSF installations?
A: VSF support FSU(fast software upgrade).
VSF Fast Software Upgrade is NOT ISSU. There is minimal downtime when performing the sequenced reboot.
Q12: but can i stack a 2930f poe with 2930f no poe?
A: Starting from 16.06, The 2930F can stack with multiple SKUs, IE 48p à 8p à 24p, it doesn’t matter if it’s POE or non POE
Q13: Is there a Firmware requirement for the 2930F, same as 5400R ?
A: VSF is supported on 2930F from 16.03 version or later and 5400R from 16.01 or later.
Q14: Will Aruba Central support VSF stacked switches?
A: No. Aruba Central does not supports VSF yet. This is in roadmap and we are expecting central to support VSF soon.
Q15: So this is like IRF, can it also be used across different technologies to create a stretched stack (f.i. links over MultiMode, SingleMode, Dac, UTP,... as long as it is the same "Ethernet" technology (f.i. 10G))
Yes, the VSF Links will stretch as long as the transceiver/fiber specifications will allow. However it is NOT like RRPP.
Q16: the 1950 uses IRF
A: Yes. 1950 supports IRF.
Q17: Can we mix different models of 2930F toghether (24 ports + 48 ports for example) ? Can we mix 1GSFP models with 10GSFP+ models ?
A: Starting from 16.06, The 2930F can stack with multiple SKUs, IE 48p à 8p à 24p, it doesn’t matter if it’s POE or non POE.
Q18: Member ID should range from 1-4 on 2930F?
A: Yes. Member ID has a range from 1-4 on 2930 F. Now from 16.06, we support upto 8 members.
Q19: member ID showing 1-2 only but for 2930 it is 4 members so this will be mapped
A: Yes. Member ID has a range from 1-4 on 2930 F. Now from 16.06, we support upto 8 members.
Q20: you didnt mentioned that there can't be redundant mgmt modules on 5400 to use vsf
A: When running VSF, you cannot use a redundant MGMT module. VSF will disable a second Management module in any 5400R chassis that has 2 Management modules installed" and only one will be used. It is recommended to only have one MM installed in the chassis as the shut down module could turn “on” during a reboot, if it has older code that doesn’t support VSF, it will completely break the stack.
Q21: Will LACP MAD be supported in future software releases?
A: This will be a new feature request. We do not have an ETA for LACP MAD yet.
Q22: How long does it takes if a commander and standby fails, and a member has to take over the role as new commander?
A: If both commander and Standby fails, it would take around 3-15 sec for the member switch to take over.
Q23: VSF link can also be 1G on 2930F
A: Yes. 2930F support 1G link to form VSF.
Q24: When VSF will be available to configure when switchs are connected to aruba central?
A: We do not have an ETA yet for VSF support on central. We are expecting this somewhere in Q4 2018.
Q25: if the priority is same ? what is the reference to choose commander ?
A: If both members have the same priority, the one with the lowest MAC address becomes commander.
Q26: On the 2930Fs - Links were max 2. How do I then add a 4th device considering that Link 1 is used to the Standby and Link 2 used to the Member
A: MAX device of 4/8 are only supported in Ring topology. When you are creating a ring, each VSF member would only use 2 VSF links.
Q27: For provisioning mode, does the 2nd switch has to be also factory-defaulted?
A: For provisioning modes, its not mandatory for the 2nd switch to be in factory default state. However on joining VSF, the device would reboot with factory default config.
Q28: How can I remove a VSF port from a VSF link?
A: no vsf member 1 link 1 <port number>
Q29: Can you use 1 gig connections to build vsf
A: Yes. You can use 1Gig. But its supported only on 2930F.
Q30: Can you have more than one J# model number in loose provisioning ? For example JL256A and JL557A ?
A: Starting from 16.06, The 2930F can stack with multiple SKUs, IE 48p à 8p à 24p, it doesn’t matter if it’s POE or non POE
Q31: hi, when replacing a member will i lose some config on commander.. the member interface descriptions and vlan assignments for example?
A: Yes. When replacing a member, the member needs to be removed from the commander using No member command. Once the member is removed from commander, all relevant config will be removed.
Q32: Does LLDP-MAD work with an assist device of any other vendor?
A: Yes. LLADP-MAD will work with assist device of another vendor. However we need to make sure the assist device support LACP.
Q33: Could LLDP MAD work on SNMP v3 as it's more secure than V2 ?
A: LLDP MAD will not work with SNMPv3.
Q34: *STP on 2930 OOBM management VLAN ports?
A: OOBM ports are not available on 2930F switch. Hence OOBM MAD is not supported on 2930F.
Q35: All the MAD examples have a third switchs present, does the 2930F support direct connect for VLAN MAD, similiar to MAD bfd on comware?
A: 2930F needs an external device for VLAN MAD to work.
Q36: What are the options and procedures for updating VSF member software and minimal or zero network disruption?:
A: https://community.hpe.com/t5/ProCurve-ProVision-Based/VSF-Fast-Software-Upgrade-FSU/td-p/6933771
Q37: Do all VSF ports forward traffic all the time or there a blocked port when in a ring topology?
A: All Ports which are part of VSF will be in active state all the time and will forward packets to the connected switches.
Q38: How we can avoid the situation that becoming multiple commander switches in network as you explain in mad only commander and standby is conneting to the MAD devices.
A: By implementing MAD, we can prevent split brains on VSF network. We can make use of VLAN MAD or LLDP MAD on VSF network with more than 2 devices.
Q39: what if MAD check device fails and also VSF links are down (I know much more unlikely tha split): what do members do?
A: With VSF links down and MAD down, we can see a VSF Split. We might see two active commanders.
Q40: What is the advantage of VSF over the backpplane stacking?
A: Low cost and simplified management.
Q41: Does VSF support In Service Software Upgrades (ISSU) or would the stack need to be rebooted during/after a firmware upgrade? Thanks, Danni.
A: VSF support FSU(fast software upgrade).
https://community.hpe.com/t5/ProCurve-ProVision-Based/VSF-Fast-Software-Upgrade-FSU/td-p/6933771
Q42: How are firmware updates done in a VSF environment? Eg: Is a rolling update feature available that reboots only one member of the VSF at a time?
A: VSF support FSU(fast software upgrade).
https://community.hpe.com/t5/ProCurve-ProVision-Based/VSF-Fast-Software-Upgrade-FSU/td-p/6933771
Q43: is it possible to connect 8 swites in 2930 f series switches
A: Yes. 8 switch VSF on 2930F is supported from 16.06.
Q44: Hello, my customer owns an Aruba Central account where they have been centralising all Aruba devices but They cannot add the switches stacked in VSF as it is not supported. They are willing to get this done soon. Do you know when is this going to be possible?
adding VSF stacks to Aruba Central Mgmt
A: As of now, Aruba Central doesn’t support switches with VSF. This is still under development and we can expected central support VSF soon.
Q45: shutdown is supposed to be used only to remove members?
A: Shutdown is a member state. When the device is shutdown from the commander, a member gets into this state.
vsf member 2 shutdown
Q46: Is a support of the 8320 planned?
A: 8320 supports VSX which is similar to VSF and more advanced.
https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/ds/DS_8400Series.pdf
Q47: Does VCF support Multi-Chassis LAG between two VCF's.
A: VSF is supported only on 5400 & 2930F. MC-LAG is not supported on these models. Distributed Trunking on the 5400R is similar to MCLAG.
Q48: *STP on 2930 OOBM management VLAN ports? Mean is there any configuration related on those ports? BPDU filter? MSTP?
A: OOBM ports are not available on 2930F switch. Hence OOBM MAD is not supported on 2930F.