Cisco 6509 - Install supervisors with VSS Support

[a.psomas]

Hello all, 

In our company we have 2 Cisco 6509 with WS-SUP720-3B as supervisors. 2 of them in each switch. We are using HSRP for high availability and an etherchannel for the interconnectivity.

We are planning to use VSS for stacking. As i know the supervisors we have do not support this. Am i right ? Can you help me with the supervisor models i can use ? 

Thanks a lot 

[agapitca19]

Hi,

Please check the url below and read Hardware and Software Requirements on page 10.

http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/products/collateral/interfaces-modules/network-modules/white_paper_c11_429338.pdf

***Please rate or mark the comment correct if you found it helpful. Thanks***

[a.psomas]

Thanks you all for your answers , 

One last thing. These vss sups are supporting all linecards ? I have some WS-X6548-GE-TX (48port 1Gbit) , a WS-X6748-GE-TX and also WS-X6708-10GE (10Gbit 8 ports) linecards. I read somewhere that this linecards are not supported with all SUP so i must confirm somewhere if they are supported to the sups with VSS ? 

Thanks

[Reza Sharifi]

Hi,

Mainly the 67xx is supported.  Have a look at table-1 in this link:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-6500-virtual-switching-system-1440/prod_qas0900aecd806ed74b.html

HTH

[Leo Laohoo]

I have some WS-X6548-GE-TX (48port 1Gbit) , a WS-X6748-GE-TX and also WS-X6708-10GE (10Gbit 8 ports) linecards.

This will be ultimately depend on the IOS running on the chassis.  The Release Notes of each IOS version will now list the different line cards supported and, sometimes, it will list which line cards are no longer supported.  

Before making a jump to VSS, kindly talk to your Cisco AM/SE after Cisco Live US.  This way you'll know whether or not you're wasting money on the upgrade or not.

[a.psomas]

Hello , 

Why do you thing it is a waste of money the upgrade to the 6500 switches ? Im asking because also we are thinking to go for a new pair of switches (maybe dell or hp in the same category) or just upgrade the already ones.

Thanks

[Leo Laohoo]

Why do you thing it is a waste of money the upgrade to the 6500 switches

The question is not about upgrading to a VSS.  The question that needs to be asked is upgrading to a specific model, like the 6500. 

If you have a working relationship with Cisco, ask them about "new developments" that will be announced during Cisco Live US 2017 and then make the decision.

[Reza Sharifi · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Correct. Your current sup does not support VSS.  VSS is supported starting with sup "VS-S720-10G-3C and 3C-XL.  Also, the newer Sup-2T and Sup-6T support VSS as well.

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-6500-series-switches/product_data_sheet09186a0080159856.html

HTH

[Joseph W. Doherty · Accepted solution]

Your question, I believe has been answered.

However, keep in mind, if you move to a VSS solution, you only need two replacement sups although VSS can use four.

Also if you have dual sups now, per chassis, and if you have redundancy on all but the chassis itself, VSS doesn't increase your redundancy much, as the chassis, itself, has a low failure rate.  I mention this to avoid the cost of replacement sups.  On the other hand, sup720s, I recall, are EoL (and likely the chassis, if not also EoL, isn't that far from it).

[a.psomas]

Hello , 

I don't know if i understand well . Can i use 2 vss supervisors per chassis so to have high availability if for some reason one sup die ? 

Thanks

[Reza Sharifi]

Hi,

Yes, you can have 2 sups per chassis. That is quad-sup-vss.

https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/11687181/quad-sup-vss-6500

HTH