Preparing two 6800 switches for VSS

[uwbitservices]

We are replacing our mixed seven device L3 Core with two 6800's in VSS. I'm currently learning to configure VSS but I'm not sure if I need to do anything specific on both 6800 switches before enabling VSS, there seems little information on this. For example, we have over 100 VLAN's and use VTP, we also use OSPF so how do I configure VTP and the VLAN interfaces and OSPF ready for VSS?

1. Do I setup both switches as VTP Server in same VTP domain?

2. Do I create same VLAN's on each switch?

2. Do I create each VLAN interface on each switch but with separate IP addresses?

3. Do I give a virtual IP address to each VLAN?

4. Do I use same router ospf process-id and same network statements?

and so on....

....or am I worrying about nothing and what I need to do is create VSS first then I only need to care about one unique config?

Thanks,

Jon.

[Mark Malone · Accepted solution]

....or am I worrying about nothing and what I need to do is create VSS first then I only need to care about one unique config?

Exactly create the VSS switch(s) so it acts as 1 unit ,first thing to do is make the VSS and make sure its formed correctly between the 2 switches, once that's done its a lot easier just like connecting other devices/switches to stack you dual home them to each switch using a port-channel for redundancy

best practice

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/solutions/Enterprise/Campus/VSS30dg/campusVSS_DG/VSS-dg_appa-configs.pdf

This is for 6500 but the concepts are generally the same , some good points in this doc regarding VSS

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

[uwbitservices]

Thank you. I'll give that a try and check out your links. The kit arrived late last Friday and we have it all unpacked and powered on in a lab setup but not connected to each other yet but we will do that this week and work on the config. I'll let you know how I get on.

[Mark Malone]

Yes I have a few VSS setups 65s  so should be able to assist if you get stuck theres little difference on the VSS setup between the platforms

here is the 6800 faq doc for VSS may be useful if your using fexs

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-6800ia-switch/qa_c67-728684.html

[uwbitservices]

All connected, configured and working well. Thank you.

[Mark Malone]

glad to hear its sorted