Cisco WS-C4500X-16 VSS Configuration Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions

This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough for configuring Cisco WS-C4500X-16 VSS to create a high-availability network.

1. Physical Connections:

   • Ensure a physical connection between the two switches using a bidirectional 40G QSFP+ fiber cable connecting the VSL ports.

2. VSS Domain Configuration:

   • On each switch, configure the VSS domain using the following commands:

     Switch(config)# switch virtual domain 10
     Switch(config-vs-domain)# domain id 10
     Switch(config-vs-domain)# priority 200
     

   • domain id: Unique ID for the VSS domain

   • priority: Sets the switch's priority within the domain; higher priority becomes the master switch.

3. VSL Interface Configuration:

   • On each switch, configure the VSL interface with these commands:

     Switch(config)# interface TenGigabitEthernet1/1/1
     Switch(config-if)# switchport mode trunk
     Switch(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan all
     Switch(config-if)# no shutdown
     

   • TenGigabitEthernet1/1/1: Replace with your VSL port name.

4. VSS Configuration:

   • Master Switch:

     Switch(config)# switch virtual link 1
     Switch(config-if)# description VSL
     Switch(config-if)# switchport mode trunk
     Switch(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan all
     Switch(config-if)# channel-group 1 mode on
     Switch(config-if)# no shutdown
     

   • Backup Switch:

     Switch(config)# switch virtual link 1
     Switch(config-if)# description VSL
     Switch(config-if)# switchport mode trunk
     Switch(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan all
     Switch(config-if)# channel-group 1 mode on
     Switch(config-if)# standby 1 priority 150 preempt
     Switch(config-if)# no shutdown
     

   • channel-group 1: VSL channel group number

   • mode on: Configures a static EtherChannel.

   • standby 1 priority 150 preempt: Sets the backup switch's priority (150) and enables preemption to potentially take over as master.

5. VSS Virtual Switch Configuration:

   • Master Switch:

     Switch(config)# switch virtual domain 10
     Switch(config-vs-domain)# switch 1
     Switch(config)# interface port-channel 10
     Switch(config-if)# switchport
     Switch(config-if)# switchport mode trunk
     Switch(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan all
     Switch(config-if)# no shutdown
     

   • Backup Switch:

     Switch(config)# switch virtual domain 10
     Switch(config-vs-domain)# switch 2
     Switch(config)# interface port-channel 10
     Switch(config-if)# switchport
     Switch(config-if)# switchport mode trunk
     Switch(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan all
     Switch(config-if)# no shutdown
     

   • port-channel 10: VSS virtual switch number.

6. VSS Virtual IP Address Configuration:

   • Master Switch:

     Switch(config)# switch virtual domain 10
     Switch(config-vs-domain)# interface vlan 10
     Switch(config-if)# ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
     Switch(config-if)# no shutdown
     

   • Backup Switch:

     Switch(config)# switch virtual domain 10
     Switch(config-vs-domain)# interface vlan 10
     Switch(config-if)# ip address 192.168.1.2 255.255.255.0
     Switch(config-if)# no shutdown
     

   • vlan 10: VLAN for the VSS virtual IP address

   • 192.168.1.1 & 192.168.1.2: Master and backup switch IP addresses, respectively.

7. VSS Virtual Router Configuration:

   • Master Switch:

     Switch(config)# switch virtual domain 10
     Switch(config-vs-domain)# router vrrp 10
     Switch(config-vrrp)# address-family ipv4
     Switch(config-vrrp-af)# vrrp 10
     Switch(config-vrrp-virtual)# priority 200
     Switch(config-vrrp-virtual)# preempt
     Switch(config-vrrp-virtual)# address 192.168.1.254
     Switch(config-vrrp-virtual)# description VRRP for VSS
     

   • Backup Switch:

     Switch(config)# switch virtual domain 10
     Switch(config-vs-domain)# router vrrp 10
     Switch(config-vrrp)# address-family ipv4
     Switch(config-vrrp-af)# vrrp 10
     Switch(config-vrrp-virtual)# priority 150
     Switch(config-vrrp-virtual)# preempt
     Switch(config-vrrp-virtual)# address 192.168.1.254
     Switch(config-vrrp-virtual)# description VRRP for VSS
     

   • vrrp 10: VRRP group number

   • priority: Virtual router priority

   • address 192.168.1.254: Virtual IP address

8. Saving and Reloading:

   • On each switch, save the configuration and reload:

     Switch# copy running-config startup-config
     Switch# reload
     

This completes the Cisco WS-C4500X-16 VSS configuration. By following these steps, you have set up a resilient and fault-tolerant network environment.