Upgrade Sup 720 to Sup 2T in a VSS Cluster

[TIM JUDGE]

                   Hello, I support an active VSS cluster using 2 x 6509E chassis with single Supervisor 3C modules in each chassis. I want to replace these with Supervisor 2T modules. All my service modules and line cards are supported with the Sup2Ts (I will also be implementing 6908 modules)

Has anyone done this kind of upgrade or do they know of the best way to achieve the hardware replacement? Is there a document on the Cisco site for this? I haven't found one though I can find plenty that describe how to do a software upgrade.

(Note, I have a 3rd (non VSS) 6509E chassis that is also part of this core network and that will maintain VTP/Vlans etc)

Help is both desired and appreciated.

Message was edited by: TIM JUDGE - spelling/typos

[handoko wiyanto]

hi Tim,

i have no experience in upgrading the sup engine with vss running before, but who knows this docs useful:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9336/products_configuration_example09186a0080a64891.shtml

regards,

[Giuseppe Larosa]

Hello Tim,

I have no direct experience, but I'm afraid you need to redo all the VSS setup procedure after having replaced the supervisors in the two chassis. So this is a Major Change that requires a several hours maintenance window.

I don't think you can have a working VSS with mismatched supervisor models. And if  this is true, you have to rebuild the VSS after having inserted the new supervisors.

You need also to consider all the links that connect to VSS, and you should evaluate how to deal with them during the setup phase.

For safety you can open a service request with TAC to get their feedback and you would be kind to report here their suggestions.

Hope to help

Giuseppe

[handoko wiyanto]

hi Giuseppe, happy to have you here.

@Tim,

i agree with Giuseppe, here are the docs that saying the VSS need the supervisor to be the same

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/modules/ps2797/ps11878/qa_c67-648478.html

Q. Can I mix a Cisco Supervisor Engine 2T with Sup720-10G in a VSS-configured system?

A. No. With VSS, both supervisor engines must be the same.

and becareful with:

• WS-X6148A-RJ-45, WS-X6148-FE-SFP, and WS-X6148A-GE-TX

• WS-X6148A-GE-45AF, WS-X6148E-GE-AT, and WS-X6148A-45AF

No  hardware or software changes are required. Note that these line cards  are not supported in a Cisco Virtual Switching System (VSS) enabled  system.

regards,

[TIM JUDGE]

Thanks for the replies handoko wiyanto, yes, they are the documents I found when I went searching and it appears they are the best available.

I am going to meet with an experienced VSS tech this week to disucss the upgrade. I think it will go along the lines of the upgrade method for software upgrades and hardware repalcements in the doco you mentioned.

The new modules also have different interfaces and interface numbering on the Supervisor itself so I also have to keep that in mind.

The VLAN database will be OK as that resides on a 3rd switch in VTP server mode.

Worst case I can start the config from scratch which is not really that bad.

Our moduels are fine and are supported. Already confirmed. See below.....

Mod Ports Card Type                                           Model                       Fw             Sw

--- ----- --------------------------------------                         ------------------------------ ------------       ------------

  1   24  CEF720 24 port 1000mb SFP                  WS-X6724-SFP        12.2(18r)S1  12.2(33)SXI9

  2    8  CEF720 8 port 10GE with DFC                 WS-X6708-10GE      12.2(18r)S1  12.2(33)SXI9

  3    1  Application Control Engine Module            ACE30-MOD-K9       ace2t_main_d A5(1.2)     

  4    6  Firewall Module                                       WS-SVC-FWM-1       7.2(1)         4.1(9)      

  5    5  Supervisor Engine 720 10GE (Active)         VS-S720-10G           8.5(4)          12.2(33)SXI9

  7   48  CEF720 48 port 10/100/1000mb Ethernet  WS-X6748-GE-TX     12.2(18r)S1  12.2(33)SXI9

  8   48  CEF720 48 port 10/100/1000mb Ethernet  WS-X6748-GE-TX     12.2(18r)S1  12.2(33)SXI9

  9   48  CEF720 48 port 10/100/1000mb Ethernet  WS-X6748-GE-TX     12.2(18r)S1  12.2(33)SXI9

[Leo Laohoo]

All my service modules and line cards are supported with the Sup2Ts

No it's not.

I am definitely sure the 6708-10GE isn't supported (wrong DFC card).

I'm not sure about the 6724-SFP and the 6748-GE.

ACE and FWSM will work.

[TIM JUDGE]

Hello leolaohoo, please note that in my first post I noted that I will be installing 6908 modules to replace the 6708 modules. I had to purchase these (when I purchased the Supervisor 2T modules) to replace the 6708 modules which you correctly pointed out are not supported.

[handoko wiyanto]

hi Tim,

nice to hear that from you. hope your migration going well, and who knows you can share your experience here after that

cant wait for that

regards,

[TIM JUDGE]

Hello all, I performed the upgrade on the weekend and we now have Supervisor 2Ts and 6908 modules working well in the VSS cluster.

The method I used is listed below. Please note I had other switches connected to our core running VTP in server mode so I was able to maintian the VLAN database without much work. We had an outage window allowing us to shutdown both chassis' in the VSS cluster. Anyway, here goes:

• Backup the config of the cluster
  
• Power down both chassis in the cluster.
  
• Swap out the old Supervisor 7203C with the new Supervisor 2T in each chassis
  
• Swap out the old 6708 modules with the new 6908 modules in each chassis
  
• Power up both chassis
  
• Configure VSS between the two chassis
  
• Apply sufficient config between the VSS cluster & one of the switches with the active VLAN database (VTP servers)
  
• Check the VLAN database & continue once all looks good
  
• Bring up all the interconnects to other switches using the backed up config (remembering to apply a "no shutdown" to the relevant interaces)
  
• Re-apply the remaining config from backup
  
• Test
  

That was all, no problems experienced.

Switch one in VSS cluster:

Mod Ports Card Type                                               Model                        Fw                     Sw           Status

--- ----- --------------------------------------                     ------------------           ------------          ------------ -------

  1   24  CEF720 24 port 1000mb SFP                     WS-X6724-SFP        12.2(18r)S1     15.0(1)SY2   Ok

  2    8  DCEF2T 8 port 10GE                                   WS-X6908-10G        12.2(50r)SYL   15.0(1)SY2   Ok

  3    1  Application Control Engine Module               ACE30-MOD-K9       ace2t_main_d  A5(1.2)        Ok

  4    6  Firewall Module                                            WS-SVC-FWM-1       7.2(1)              4.1(9)          Ok

  5    5  Supervisor Engine 2T 10GE w/ CTS (Acti    VS-SUP2T-10G         12.2(50r)SYS 15.0(1)SY2   Ok

  7   48  CEF720 48 port 10/100/1000mb Ethernet  WS-X6748-GE-TX     12.2(18r)S1    15.0(1)SY2   Ok

  8   48  CEF720 48 port 10/100/1000mb Ethernet  WS-X6748-GE-TX     12.2(18r)S1    15.0(1)SY2   Ok

  9   48  CEF720 48 port 10/100/1000mb Ethernet  WS-X6748-GE-TX     12.2(18r)S1    15.0(1)SY2   Ok

sh sw virtual

Switch mode                  : Virtual Switch

Virtual switch domain number : 10

Local switch number          : 1

Local switch operational role: Virtual Switch Active

Peer switch number           : 2

Peer switch operational role : Virtual Switch Standby

[Giuseppe Larosa]

Hello Tim,

thanks for your feedback on the upgrade procedure it may be helpful for other people.

Best Regards

Giuseppe