Virtual Switching System (VSS) Conversion

IOS: 12.2(33)SXH1

The conversion process involves 4 steps:

1. Configure Virtual Switch Domain and desingate each switch as either Switch 1 or Switch 2
2. Configure priority
3. Configure Virtual Switching Links (VSL)
4. Execute the Conversion command after which the switches will reload

Configure the Virtual Switch Domain
The virtual switch domain is a grouping of 2 members of VSS with an ID from 1-255, which both members must match this number in the virtual switch domain.

On switch 1:
sw1#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
sw1(config)#switch virtual domain 1
Domain ID 1 config will take effect only
after the exec command 'switch convert mode virtual' is issued
sw1(config-vs-domain)#switch 1
sw1(config-vs-domain)#

On switch 2:
sw2#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
sw2(config)#switch virtual domain 1
Domain ID 1 config will take effect only
after the exec command 'switch convert mode virtual' is issued
sw2(config-vs-domain)#switch 2
sw2(config-vs-domain)#

Configure Priority
Higher priority node will assume active virtual switch, similar to HSRP.

On Switch 1:
sw1(config-vs-domain)#switch 1 priority 110
sw1(config-vs-domain)#switch 2 priority 100
On Switch 2:
sw2(config-vs-domain)#switch 1 priority 110
sw2(config-vs-domain)#switch 2 priority 100

Configuring VSL

On Switch 1:
sw1(config)#interface port-channel 1
sw1(config)#no shut
sw1(config-if)#switch virtual link 1
sw1(config-if)#exit
sw1(config)#interface range tenGigabitEthernet 1/4 - 5
sw1(config-if-range)#no shut
sw1(config-if-range)#channel-group 1 mode on
sw1(config-if-range)#^Z

On Switch 2:
sw2(config)#int port-channel 2
sw2(config-if)#no shut
sw2(config-if)#switch virtual link 2
sw2(config-if)#exit
sw2(config)#interface range tenGigabitEthernet 1/4 – 5
sw2(config-if-range)#no shut
sw2(config-if-range)#channel-group 2 mode on
sw2(config-if-range)#^Z

Executing Conversion

On Switch 1:
sw1#switch convert mode virtual
This command will convert all interface names
to naming convention "interface-type switch-number/slot/port",
save the running config to startup-config and
reload the switch.
Do you want to proceed? [yes/no]: yes
Converting interface names
Building configuration...

On Switch 2:
sw2#switch convert mode virtual
This command will convert all interface names
to naming convention "interface-type switch-number/slot/port",
save the running config to startup-config and
reload the switch.
Do you want to proceed? [yes/no]: yes
Converting interface names
Building configuration...

You will see these output on the switch processor during reload:
Switch 1:
Initializing as Virtual Switch active

Switch 2:
Initializing as Virtual Switch standby

After reload, switch 2's console is no longer available:
sw1-sdby>
Standby console disabled
sw1-sdby>
Standby console disabled

One last step to complete the conversion:

sw1#switch accept mode virtual
This command will bring in all VSL configurations from the standby switch and populate
it into the running configuration. In addition the startup configurations will be updated with
the new merged configurations.
Do you want proceed? [yes/no]: yes
Merging the standby VSL configuration. . .
Building configuration...
[OK]