VSS on cisco 4507R+E with sup8-E

[BHEEMA REDDY]

Hi folks,

I need to configure VSS on cisco 4507R+E switch with SUP8-E,but the problem is that as per the latest relase notes VSS is not supported on sup8-E. 

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4500/release/note/OL_32143-01.html

Can someone advise me how to proceed?

[Leo Laohoo]

The new 3.6.0E supports Easy VSS for Sup8.  

Unfortunately, I have no idea what Easy VSS can/can't do.  It's a new feature.

[BHEEMA REDDY]

Thanks Leo!

I tried to search for some documents on Easy VSS, have not found yet.Any links to Easy VSS would be a great help.

Any idea if I have to upgrade IOS ver form 15.2(1)E to 15.2(2)E for Easy VSS to work ?

[Leo Laohoo]

Personally, I'd WAIT.  

This is the first IOS which supports Easy VSS.  All of us don't know what bugs lurk beneath, unless you want to be the "guinea pig".  

Cisco's quality control, when it comes to the stability of their IOS codes, have taken a significant "hit" for the last two years.  Bugs that should've been picked up early on, prior to public release, weren't.

[BHEEMA REDDY]

Thanks Leo,

I better go with sup7-E. 

Btw, can you please give me a idea about layer 3 MEC on VSS switch. 

I need to connect  VSS switch to two CPE routers running HSRP and I have /29 IP subnet for it. 

Can I create Layer 3 portchannel on VSS switch and terminate the links to CPE's, keeping all of them in the same subnet and putting a static route to HSRP virtual address? 

Please advise. 

[Reza Sharifi]

Hi,

Yes, layer-3 Portchannel/MEC is supported with VSS. Also, connecting you VSS to 2 CPE routers with HSRP or VRRP should work just fine. For example: you connect cpe-1 to 4500-1 and cpe-2 to 4500-2.  Now you need a /29 or /28 with a vlan and dot1q tagging (or could be access port) to span from cpe-1 to 4500-1 over the VSL link to 4500-2 and cpe2. I personally like to use dot1q, so in the future if I need to add another vlan, I don't have to have an outage to change the port from access port to trunk.

HTH

[BHEEMA REDDY]

Hi Reza,

The links coming from cpe1 and cpe2 can be bundled and made layer3 port channel on VSS swirtch?

on VSS switch : 172.16.10.6/29 (port channel)

cpe1: 172.16.10.2/29

cpe2: 172.16.10.3/29

HSRP virtual IP: 172.16.10.4/29

Can you eloborate how I can use dot1q encapsulation for this scenario?

Thanks in advance!

[Reza Sharifi · Accepted solution]

Hi,

The links coming from cpe1 and cpe2 can be bundled and made layer3 port channel on VSS swirtch?

No, the link can't be in a Porchannel as cpe-1 cpe-2 are 2 different devices. If cpe-1 and 2 were for example Cisco 3750 stacked, then yes, you could put both links in a Portchannel on the 3750s and also on 4500 (VSS).

on VSS switch : 172.16.10.6/29 (port channel)

cpe1: 172.16.10.2/29

cpe2: 172.16.10.3/29

HSRP virtual IP: 172.16.10.4/29

All above statements are correct.

Can you eloborate how I can use dot1q encapsulation for this scenario?

Let assume cpe-1 and cpe-2 are Cisco 3845 routers. In this case, you can simply create a sub-interface an each device connecting to the VSS with dot1.q

for example on cpe-1

interface gi0/0

interface gi0/0.10

ip address 172.16.10.2/29

encapsulation dot1q 10

the same thing on cpe-2 except a different IP address.

Now you create vlan 10 with dot1q encapsulation on the 4500 and add it to what ever interfaces that are connecting to the cpes with an ip address on th svi.

or you can keep the 4500 (vss) as layer-2 with no IP and no svi.

it that more clear now?

Reza

[BHEEMA REDDY]

It is much clear now.. Thanks :)

[BHEEMA REDDY]

Hi,

I have upgraded 4507R+E switch with the latest IOS release(ROM: 15.1(1r)SG4,  ver 03.06.00.E release software) and it supports VSS. 

Another problem here is SSH is not supported. Any idea what can be done as this is the latest software release. 

Thanks

[BHEEMA REDDY]

Hi,

I am not able to find any SSH commands on switch, Any ideas for the above

Thanks

[Michal Janowski]

Easy VSS is just VSS configuration with one command instead of bunch of commands.

The configuration guide you may find here:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4500/XE3-6-0E/15-22E/configuration/guide/xe-360-config/vss.html#pgfId-1130268

[Leo Laohoo]

Cool!

The documentation for 3.6.0E is finally coming out.