Difference bw VSS vs Cisco Stackwise Virtual

[ITexpert]

Hello Guys, @Francesco Molino @Julio E. Moisa 

Whats the diff bw Cisco StakWise Virtual and VSS .

Thanks

[cesarfer · Accepted solution]

Hello, 

Thank you for your post. 

Stackwise virtual was designed for customers who wanted to stack two or more switches (i.e 3850) but they were in different sites or in different floors for example. So basically they couldn't form a stack because the stacking cables don't have enough length. This new technology came in in order to overcome this limitation and now allows two or more switches to be stacked and be managed through an Active switch by using fiber cables. 

The initial phase of StackWise Virtual capabilities offers consistent capabilities as a Cisco Catalyst 6K/4K VSS solution. However, the StackWise Virtual technology is a new innovation that is extended based on traditional stacking technology. It enables several new network design potentials, and with a combination of Cisco UADP ASIC technology and the next-generation Cisco IOS-XE Software operating system, it enables several new advanced technologies such as programmability, application visibility, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), and much more.

Thanks, 

Cesar Fernandez J

[alvalberg]

You said that 2 or more switches can be stacked using stackwise virtual technology.  Everything I have found states exactly 2 switches.  Could you please explain how the heart beat / dual-active detection should be configured with more than 2 switches?  I would like to lab this out with 4 switches utilizing the stackwise virtual technology.

Thank you,

Adam

[Scott Hodgdon]

alvalberg,

We currently do not support using more than 2  switches with StackWise Virtual or VSS.

Cheers,
Scott Hodgdon

[andy!doesnt!like!uucp]

hi Scott

"We currently do not support using more than 2  switches with StackWise Virtual...." contradicts with number of Cisco documents about stackwise approach. it's not even needed to google to give a proof...

[Scott Hodgdon]

Andy,

StackWise is the stacking capability using a stack cable as seen here : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst9300/hardware/install/b_c9300_hig/b_c9300_hig_chapter_010.html#concept_731340C54C5C4974B300779F6D2728B6

StackWise Virtual (SWV) is the combination of two physical systems into one logical system using Ethernet ports as seen here: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-9000/nb-06-cat-9k-stack-wp-cte-en.html#:~:text=StackWise%20Virtual%20(SV)%20combines%20two,control%20plane%20and%20management%20perspectives.&text=To%20neighboring%20devices%2C%20a%2....

So while we can certainly stack up to 8 devices using StackWise, we can only combine 2 devices in a StackWise Virtual domain.

Cheers,
Scott Hodgdon

Senior Technical Marketing Engineer

Enterprise Networking and Cloud Group

[andy!doesnt!like!uucp]

Scott

tons of tnxs. just one word makes a difference as usually :0)

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@Scott Hodgdon wrote:

So while we can certainly stack up to 8 devices using StackWise

---

Depends on the firmware of the stack. 

9300 can support a stack of sixteen (16) switch members.  

[andy!doesnt!like!uucp]

it would be coolest access stack ever :0)

[Scott Hodgdon]

Leo,

While we did have some EFT code with 16-member stacks, this is not a generally available feature at this time. The Installation Guide still states (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst9300/hardware/install/b_c9300_hig/b_c9300_hig_chapter_010.html#concept_731340C54C5C4974B300779F6D2728B6

"You can create data stacks with up to eight switches in a stack."

There is no indication of 16-member stack support in the Release Notes of any released version of IOS XE. If anyone needs 16-member support, they should reach out to their Cisco account team to work with the the product team on the request.

Cheers,
Scott Hodgdon

Senior Technical Marketing Engineer

Enterprise Networking and Cloud Group

[balaji.bandi · Accepted solution]

How does new StackWise Virtual technology  compare to Cisco 6K/4K VSS technology?
A The initial phase of StackWise Virtual capabilities offers consistent capabilities as a Cisco Catalyst 6K/4K VSS solution. However, the StackWise Virtual technology is a new innovation that is extended based on traditional stacking technology. It enables several new network design potentials, and with a combination of Cisco UADP ASIC technology and the next-generation Cisco IOS-XE Software operating system, it enables several new advanced technologies such as programmability, application visibility, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), and much more.

[Leo Laohoo]

Functionality wise, there is no difference. Stackwise Virtual and VSS are technically the same. They are called what they are because of marketing. In both instances, two physical chassis for a single logical unit which makes management easier and enables cross-chassis Etherchannel.
Another thing to consider: VSS and Stackwise is a term used by appliances that run IOS. Stackwise Virtual, however, is for appliance that run IOS-XE.

[TM13]

Hi Guys,

   Any of them facing Stackwise Virtual 2 members not sending packets in load-balance of 2 port-channel ports, it was load-balanced on Stackwise 2 switches 2 members of port-channel. 

 Attached StackWise Virtual switches, secondary switch's port-channel member.

  

[balaji.bandi]

Can you provide more information like what is the device model and what version of code running

with that picture we are not in a postion to assume what is configured, so please provide the config also which is relavant to this setup ?

#show stackwise-virtual

#show switch

#show redundancy states

#show interface x/x (both the interface inforamtion from both the devices in SWV)

[TM13]

Hi BB,

#
#sh stackwise-virtual
Stackwise Virtual Configuration:
--------------------------------
Stackwise Virtual : Enabled
Domain Number : 2

Switch Stackwise Virtual Link Ports
------ ---------------------- ------
1 1 FortyGigabitEthernet1/0/1
FortyGigabitEthernet1/0/2
2 1 FortyGigabitEthernet2/0/1
FortyGigabitEthernet2/0/2

#sh switch
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 0cd0.f83b.5d00 - Local Mac Address
Mac persistency wait time: Indefinite
H/W Current
Switch# Role Mac Address Priority Version State
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*1 Active 0cd0.f83b.5d00 15 V01 Ready
2 Standby 0cd0.f83b.5c80 14 V01 Ready

#sh redundancy states
my state = 13 -ACTIVE
peer state = 8 -STANDBY HOT
Mode = Duplex
Unit = Primary
Unit ID = 1

Redundancy Mode (Operational) = sso
Redundancy Mode (Configured) = sso
Redundancy State = sso
Maintenance Mode = Disabled
Manual Swact = enabled
Communications = Up

client count = 116
client_notification_TMR = 30000 milliseconds
RF debug mask = 0x0

#sh int fo1/0/12
FortyGigabitEthernet1/0/12 is up, line protocol is up (connected)
Hardware is Forty Gigabit Ethernet, address is 0cd0.f83b.5d0c (bia 0cd0.f83b.5d0c)
Description:
MTU 1500 bytes, BW 10000000 Kbit/sec, DLY 10 usec,
reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 4/255
Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
Keepalive not set
Full-duplex, 10Gb/s, link type is force-up, media type is SFP-10GBase-LR
input flow-control is on, output flow-control is unsupported
ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
Last input 00:00:15, output 00:00:02, output hang never
Last clearing of "show interface" counters never
Input queue: 0/2000/0/0 (size/max/drops/flushes); Total output drops: 0
Queueing strategy: fifo
Output queue: 0/40 (size/max)
30 second input rate 177249000 bits/sec, 18580 packets/sec
30 second output rate 34063000 bits/sec, 14780 packets/sec
31500961927 packets input, 37126994244598 bytes, 0 no buffer
Received 3560190 broadcasts (1057314 multicasts)
0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
0 watchdog, 1057314 multicast, 0 pause input
0 input packets with dribble condition detected
26068784658 packets output, 6919967596091 bytes, 0 underruns
Output 15 broadcasts (0 multicasts)
0 output errors, 0 collisions, 2 interface resets
52298 unknown protocol drops
0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 pause output
0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out
#sh int fo2/0/12
FortyGigabitEthernet2/0/12 is up, line protocol is up (connected)
Hardware is Forty Gigabit Ethernet, address is 0cd0.f83b.5c8c (bia 0cd0.f83b.5c8c)
Description:
MTU 1500 bytes, BW 10000000 Kbit/sec, DLY 10 usec,
reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 3/255
Encapsulation ARPA, loopback not set
Keepalive not set
Full-duplex, 10Gb/s, link type is force-up, media type is SFP-10GBase-LR
input flow-control is on, output flow-control is unsupported
ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
Last input 00:00:11, output 00:00:06, output hang never
Last clearing of "show interface" counters 1w5d
Input queue: 0/2000/0/0 (size/max/drops/flushes); Total output drops: 0
Queueing strategy: fifo
Output queue: 0/40 (size/max)
30 second input rate 140185000 bits/sec, 15762 packets/sec
30 second output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
18697672777 packets input, 21830054815952 bytes, 0 no buffer
Received 72684 broadcasts (72684 multicasts)
0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
0 watchdog, 72684 multicast, 0 pause input
0 input packets with dribble condition detected
206868 packets output, 33038114 bytes, 0 underruns
Output 0 broadcasts (0 multicasts)
0 output errors, 0 collisions, 0 interface resets
34924 unknown protocol drops
0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 pause output
0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out
#