Automatic configuration of a VSF fabric
Automatic configuration of a VSF is simpler than the manual configuration, as it only requires the user to log in and configure one switch. The other switches automatically get their configurations from the first switch, but only if the switches are in factory default state. Automatic configuration is not supported on switches that have been previously deployed, or have had any configuration change made to them, over either CLI, web, or SNMP. A switch may be restored to factory default state by using the CLI command
erase startup-configuration command.
The following configuration methods can be applied to a stack having more than four members too.
without provisioning
- with provisioning
Chassis type, called loose provisioning
Chassis type and MAC-address, called strict provisioning
Do not connect the ports initially. Since the ports are Ethernet ports, connecting them in a ring topology can cause loops. Note down the J-number & MAC address of each switch. The J-number is available on the front panel of the switch while the MAC address is available on the back panel of the switch.
- Connect to the console of the member intended to be the commander (member 1 in this example). To enable VSF on the member, execute the following commands:
switch# configure switch(config)# vsf member 1 priority 200 switch(config)# vsf member 1 link 1 22 All configuration on this port has been removed and port is placed in VSF mode. switch(config)# vsf member 1 link 2 23 All configuration on this port has been removed and port is placed in VSF mode. switch(config)# vsf enable domain 3144 To enable VSF, the REST interface will be disabled. This will save the current configuration and reboot the switch. Continue (y/n)? y
The preceding sequence of commands will configure the switch as member 1, with priority 200. The ports 22 and 23 are configured on VSF links 1 and 2 respectively. VSF is now enabled. The domain must be specified while enabling VSF. - Upon reboot, the switch is a one-member stack. Execute the
show vsfcommand:switch# show vsf VSF Domain ID : 3144 MAC Address : b05ada-961103 VSF Topology : No Stack Formed VSF Status : Active Uptime : 0d 3h 22m VSF MAD : None VSF Port Speed : 1G Software Version : WC.16.03.0000x Mbr ID MAC Address Model Pri Status --- ------------- -------------------------------------- --- --------------- *1 b05ada-961100 Aruba JL253A 2930F-24G-4SFP+ Switch 200 Commander
- Physically connect the switch with default configuration to the configured VSF links on member 1. The new switch will automatically reboot to join the stack as the Standby.
switch# show vsf VSF Domain ID : 3144 MAC Address : b05ada-961103 VSF Topology : Chain VSF Status : Active Uptime : 0d 3h 22m VSF MAD : None VSF Port Speed : 1G Software Version : WC.16.03.0000x Mbr ID MAC Address Model Pri Status --- ------------- -------------------------------------- --- --------------- *1 b05ada-961100 Aruba JL253A 2930F-24G-4SFP+ Switch 200 Commander 2 b05ada-9721c0 Aruba JL260A 2930F-48G-4SFP Switch 150 Standby
- Configure link 2 of the newly joined member and connect switch 3 with default configuration, to the link 2 of member 2 (Standby). The new member will automatically reboot and join the stack as member 3.
switch# show vsf VSF Domain ID : 3144 MAC Address : b05ada-961103 VSF Topology : Chain VSF Status : Active Uptime : 0d 3h 22m VSF MAD : None VSF Port Speed : 1G Software Version : WC.16.03.0000x Mbr ID MAC Address Model Pri Status --- ------------- -------------------------------------- --- --------------- *1 b05ada-961100 Aruba JL253A 2930F-24G-4SFP+ Switch 200 Commander 2 b05ada-9721c0 Aruba JL260A 2930F-48G-4SFP Switch 150 Standby 3 b05ada-972200 Aruba JL254A 2930F-48G-4SFP+ Switch 128 Member
All switches can be now interconnected and powered on.
Do not connect the ports initially. Since the ports are Ethernet ports, connecting them in a ring topology can cause loops. Note down the J-number & MAC address of each switch. The J-number is available on the front panel of the switch while the MAC address is available on the back panel of the switch.
- Connect to the console of the member intended to be the commander (member 1 in this example). To enable VSF on the member, execute the following commands:
switch# configure switch(config)# vsf member 1 priority 200 switch(config)# vsf member 1 link 1 22 All configuration on this port has been removed and port is placed in VSF mode. switch(config)# vsf member 1 link 2 23 All configuration on this port has been removed and port is placed in VSF mode. switch(config)# vsf enable domain 3144 To enable VSF, the REST interface will be disabled. This will save the current configuration and reboot the switch. Continue (y/n)? y
The preceding sequence of commands will configure the switch as member 1, with priority 200. The ports 22 and 23 are configured on VSF links 1 and 2 respectively. VSF is now enabled. The domain must be specified while enabling VSF. - Upon reboot, the switch is a one-member stack. Execute the
show vsfcommand:switch# show vsf VSF Domain ID : 3144 MAC Address : b05ada-961103 VSF Topology : No Stack Formed VSF Status : Active Uptime : 0d 3h 22m VSF MAD : None VSF Port Speed : 1G Software Version : WC.16.03.0000x Mbr ID MAC Address Model Pri Status --- ------------- -------------------------------------- --- --------------- *1 b05ada-961100 Aruba JL253A 2930F-24G-4SFP+ Switch 200 Commander
- Provision the configuration for each of the other switches. Provisioning allows the user to specify the type of each switch in the stack. Once provisioned, the user can make configuration changes on ports of the switch. When the switch joins the stack, it will automatically get any configuration made. Provision member 2:
switch# configure switch(config)# vsf member 2 type JL260A mac-address b05ada-9721c0 This will save the current configuration. Continue (y/n)? y Warning - The link and port should be provisioned for member 2 to join the VSF stack. switch(config)# vsf member 2 priority 150 switch(config)# vsf member 2 link 1 2/22 All configuration on this port has been removed and port is placed in VSF mode. switch(config)# vsf member 2 link 2 2/23 All configuration on this port has been removed and port is placed in VSF mode. switch(config)#
The member number, switch type, and MAC address are specified first. Once this command is executed, the ports of the switch are now available to be configured, as 2/1, 2/2 and so on. The links of member 2 are also provisioned, using ports 2/22 and 2/23 on links 1 & 2 respectively. The provisioned switch also shows up in the stack configuration:switch# show vsf VSF Domain ID : 3144 MAC Address : b05ada-961103 VSF Topology : No Stack Formed VSF Status : Active Uptime : 0d 3h 22m VSF MAD : None VSF Port Speed : 1G Software Version : WC.16.03.0000x Mbr ID MAC Address Model Pri Status --- ------------- -------------------------------------- --- --------------- *1 b05ada-961100 Aruba JL253A 2930F-24G-4SFP+ Switch 200 Commander 2 b05ada-9721c0 Aruba JL260A 2930F-48G-4SFP Switch 150 Provisioned
- The same procedure is repeated to provision switches 3 & 4 too. To continue configuring and provisioning switches 3 & 4, enter the following commands on the console:
switch(config)# vsf member 3 type JL254A mac-address b05ada-972200 This will save the current configuration. Continue (y/n)? y Warning - The link and port should be provisioned for member 3 to join the VSF stack. switch(config)# vsf member 3 link 1 3/46 All configuration on this port has been removed and port is placed in VSF mode. switch(config)# vsf member 3 link 2 3/47 All configuration on this port has been removed and port is placed in VSF mode. switch(config)# vsf member 4 type JL259A mac-address b05ada-96f080 This will save the current configuration. Continue (y/n)? y Warning - The link and port should be provisioned for member 4 to join the VSF stack. switch(config)# vsf member 4 link 1 4/46 All configuration on this port has been removed and port is placed in VSF mode. switch(config)# vsf member 4 link 2 4/47 All configuration on this port has been removed and port is placed in VSF mode.
The provisioned switch also shows up in the stack configuration:switch# show vsf VSF Domain ID : 3144 MAC Address : b05ada-961103 VSF Topology : No Stack Formed VSF Status : Active Uptime : 0d 3h 22m VSF MAD : None VSF Port Speed : 1G Software Version : WC.16.03.0000x Mbr ID MAC Address Model Pri Status --- ------------- -------------------------------------- --- --------------- *1 b05ada-961100 Aruba JL253A 2930F-24G-4SFP+ Switch 200 Commander 2 b05ada-9721c0 Aruba JL260A 2930F-48G-4SFP Switch 150 Provisioned 3 b05ada-972200 Aruba JL254A 2930F-48G-4SFP+ Switch 128 Provisioned 4 b05ada-96f080 Aruba JL259A 2930F-24G-4SFP Switch 128 Provisioned
All switches can be now interconnected and powered on. Connect all the switches as shown:
After the connections have been made, power on switch 2 and 4. These switches will boot up normally as a standalone switch with the default configuration.
The VSF enabled switch will push down the VSF configuration information to the other switches over the VSF link ports.
Since switches 2 and 4 are the directly connected switches, they will receive their configuration first, and reboot. This procedure takes between 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Once switches 2 & 4 have joined the stack, power on switch 3.
- VSF configuration will be pushed to switch 3. It will reboot last, and join the stack. The final stack configuration will now include all switches.
switch# show vsf VSF Domain ID : 3144 MAC Address : b05ada-961103 VSF Topology : Ring VSF Status : Active Uptime : 0d 3h 22m VSF MAD : None VSF Port Speed : 1G Software Version : WC.16.03.0000x Mbr ID MAC Address Model Pri Status --- ------------- -------------------------------------- --- --------------- *1 b05ada-961100 Aruba JL253A 2930F-24G-4SFP+ Switch 200 Commander 2 b05ada-9721c0 Aruba JL260A 2930F-48G-4SFP Switch 150 Standby 3 b05ada-972200 Aruba JL254A 2930F-48G-4SFP+ Switch 128 Member 4 b05ada-96f080 Aruba JL259A 2930F-24G-4SFP Switch 128 Member
In this scenario, specifying the MAC address of each provisioned switch is optional. If the MAC address is not specified, the switch is termed a loose-provisioned switch. When the commander configures a switch connected on a VSF link port, it will find the first provisioned switch which matches the J-number, and push the configuration to the connected switch.