What is VSS?
VSS (Virtual Switching System) is a Cisco technology used in campus network design to combine two physical switches into a single logical switch. It enhances redundancy, scalability, and performance while simplifying management.
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| Fig 1: Virtual Switching System |
Key Concept of VSS:
- Combines 2 Cisco Catalyst switches (usually 6500, 6800, 9400, 4500X, 9500 series) into a single virtual switch.
- Both switches share a single control plane but have separate data planes.
- Operates using a special link called VSL (Virtual Switch Link).
Benefits of VSS:
- Single Management
- High Availability
- No STP Blocking
- Increased Bandwidth
- Simplified Topology
Key Components of VSS:
1. VSL (Virtual Switch Link)
- Special link for control & data traffic between switches.
- Typically uses 10G/40G/100G interfaces.
2. Active & Standby Role
- One switch is Active (Control Plane).
- Other switch is Standby (Takes over if Active fails).
VSS
- Catalyst 4500/6500/6800/9400
- Single Control Plane
- Active-Active Data Plane
- VSL (Link Type)
Common VSS Issues:
- VSL Link Failure → Split Brain Scenario
- Misconfiguration of Domain ID
- Mismatch of software versions
- Inconsistent configuration between switches
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