🌐 VOSS Fabric Connect Interactive Lab

Master Extreme Networks Fabric Connect Configuration

Welcome to VOSS Fabric Connect Lab! 🚀

This interactive lab will guide you through configuring a three-switch Extreme Networks VOSS Fabric Connect topology. You'll learn real-world configuration techniques based on actual troubleshooting scenarios.

1

What You'll Learn

  • VOSS-specific command syntax and sequence requirements
  • SPBM (Shortest Path Bridging MAC) configuration
  • ISIS routing protocol setup for fabric connectivity
  • Fabric Attach vs. Static VLAN assignment strategies
  • Common configuration errors and their solutions
  • Verification and troubleshooting techniques
2

Lab Environment

  • 3 VOSS Switches: VOSSVM-1, VOSSVM-2, VOSSVM-3
  • 2 Client PCs: PC1 (connected to VOSSVM-2), PC2 (connected to VOSSVM-1)
  • Triangular Fabric: Full mesh connectivity between switches
  • Service VLAN: VLAN 100 with I-SID 10000100
Ready to Begin? Click through the tabs above to start your Fabric Connect journey. Each section builds upon the previous one, so follow them in order for the best learning experience!

Network Topology 📊

                       VOSSVM-3
                          🔄
                      1/1 / \ 1/2
                         /   \
                        /     \
                       /       \
               🔄 VOSSVM-2 ———————————— VOSSVM-1 🔄
                    |      1/4   1/4     |
                    |                    |
                    | 1/8                | 1/8
                    |                    |
                  💻 PC1               PC2 💻
1

Physical Connections

  • VOSSVM-1 ↔ VOSSVM-2: GigE 1/4 ↔ GigE 1/4 (Fabric Link)
  • VOSSVM-2 ↔ VOSSVM-3: GigE 1/1 ↔ GigE 1/1 (Fabric Link)
  • VOSSVM-1 ↔ VOSSVM-3: GigE 1/1 ↔ GigE 1/2 (Fabric Link)
  • PC1 ↔ VOSSVM-2: GigE 1/8 (Client Connection)
  • PC2 ↔ VOSSVM-1: GigE 1/8 (Client Connection)
2

Logical Design

  • Fabric Type: ISIS Level-1 Area
  • SPBM Instance: Instance 1
  • B-VLANs: 4051 (Primary), 4052 (Secondary)
  • Customer Service: VLAN 100 → I-SID 10000100
  • IP Addressing: 192.168.100.0/24 network
Important: This triangular topology provides full redundancy. Each switch can reach the others via multiple paths, ensuring high availability for your manufacturing environment.

Prerequisites & Planning 📋

1

Required Information

Before starting, gather this information for each switch:

Switch System ID Nickname VLAN 100 IP
VOSSVM-1 0001.0001.0001 1.00.01 192.168.100.1/24
VOSSVM-2 0002.0002.0002 2.00.02 192.168.100.2/24
VOSSVM-3 0003.0003.0003 3.00.03 No VLAN interface
2

Common Parameters

  • ISIS Area: 49.0000 (Manual Area)
  • SPBM Instance: 1
  • Primary B-VLAN: 4051
  • Secondary B-VLAN: 4052
  • Customer VLAN: 100
  • I-SID: 10000100
  • SPBM Ethertype: 0x8100

💡 Key Learning Point

System IDs and Nicknames must be unique per switch, but B-VLANs, I-SIDs, and ISIS Area must be identical across all fabric switches for proper operation.

Before You Begin: Ensure all switches are running compatible VOSS firmware (8.2 or later recommended) and have proper physical connectivity established.

Step-by-Step Configuration ⚙️

🔧 VOSSVM-1 Configuration

1

Initial Setup & ISIS Disable

enable configure terminal prompt VOSSVM-1 ! Disable ISIS to allow SPBM configuration changes no router isis enable

🎯 Why This Step?

ISIS must be disabled before making SPBM configuration changes. This prevents runtime modification errors and ensures clean configuration.

2

SPBM Global Configuration

! Enable SPBM globally spbm spbm ethertype 0x8100
3

ISIS & SPBM Instance Setup

! Configure ISIS and SPBM instance router isis spbm 1 spbm 1 nick-name 1.00.01 spbm 1 b-vid 4051,4052 primary 4051 system-id 0001.0001.0001 manual-area 49.0000 is-type l1 sys-name VOSSVM-1 exit
4

B-VLAN Creation

! Create B-VLANs BEFORE enabling ISIS vlan create 4051 name "Primary-BVLAN" type spbm-bvlan vlan create 4052 name "Secondary-BVLAN" type spbm-bvlan
Critical: B-VLANs must be created before enabling ISIS, or the fabric will not form properly.
5

Fabric Interface Configuration

! Interface to VOSSVM-2 (CRITICAL: encapsulation dot1q FIRST!) interface GigabitEthernet 1/1 encapsulation dot1q isis isis spbm 1 isis enable enable exit ! Interface to VOSSVM-3 interface GigabitEthernet 1/2 encapsulation dot1q isis isis spbm 1 isis enable enable exit
Common Error: If you try to configure ISIS before encapsulation dot1q, you'll get: "ISIS configurations are not allowed on EAPOL enabled ports"
6

Edge Interface for PC2

! Configure edge interface for PC2 (Static VLAN assignment) interface GigabitEthernet 1/8 encapsulation dot1q enable exit
7

Enable ISIS & Services

! Enable ISIS globally router isis enable ! Enable Fabric Attach for future use fa enable ! Create customer VLAN with I-SID vlan create 100 name "Customer-VLAN-100" type port-mstprstp 0 vlan i-sid 100 10000100

📝 VLAN Type Syntax

When using type port-mstprstp, you must specify the MSTP instance (0 = default CIST).

8

VLAN Interface & Port Assignment

! Configure VLAN interface interface vlan 100 ip address 192.168.100.1 255.255.255.0 enable exit ! Assign edge port to VLAN (Static assignment) vlan members 100 1/8 vlan ports 1/8 tagging untagAll ! Save configuration write memory
Note: VOSS uses tagging untagAll syntax, not tagging untagged.

🚀 Pro Tip: Automated Alternative

Instead of manual configuration, you can use the built-in script on each switch:

VOSSVM-X(config)#run spbm

The script will prompt for all parameters and handle the correct sequence automatically!

Common Issues & Solutions 🔧

1

Error: "ISIS - IS-IS is enabled, runtime change not allowed"

You see this when trying to configure SPBM while ISIS is running.
Solution: Disable ISIS first, then configure SPBM, then re-enable ISIS.
no router isis enable ! Configure SPBM parameters router isis enable
2

Error: "ISIS configurations are not allowed on EAPOL enabled ports"

You see this when trying to configure ISIS before setting interface encapsulation.
Solution: Configure encapsulation dot1q first.
interface GigabitEthernet 1/1 encapsulation dot1q # MUST be first! isis isis spbm 1 isis enable
3

Error: "Instance id" required when creating VLANs

VLAN creation fails asking for instance ID parameter.
Solution: Specify MSTP instance when using port-mstprstp type.
vlan create 100 name "Customer-VLAN-100" type port-mstprstp 0
4

Error: "Switched UNI ports cannot be part of any vlan"

You see this when trying to assign FA-enabled ports to VLANs.
Solution: Choose between Fabric Attach OR static VLAN assignment.
! For static VLAN assignment, disable FA on the port: interface GigabitEthernet 1/8 no fa enable exit vlan members 100 1/8
5

Command Syntax Issues

VOSS uses different syntax than other vendors:
Wrong Correct Purpose
no shutdown enable Enable interface
tagging untagged tagging untagAll Untagged VLAN ports
no eapol enable encapsulation dot1q Allow ISIS config

🔍 Troubleshooting Commands

! Check ISIS and SPBM status show isis spbm show isis adjacency ! Check interface status show interfaces GigabitEthernet 1/1 show fa interface ! Check VLAN configuration show vlan info 100 show vlan i-sid ! Check fabric forwarding show isis spbm unicast-fib

Configuration Verification ✅

VOSSVM-1:1#
1

Verify SPBM Configuration

show isis spbm

Expected output should show:

  • SPBM Instance 1 with correct B-VID and nickname
  • Primary B-VLAN 4051, Secondary 4052
  • Status should be "enable"
2

Verify ISIS Adjacencies

show isis adjacency

Expected output should show:

  • Adjacencies with other VOSS switches
  • State should be "Up"
  • Level should be "L1"
3

Verify VLAN and I-SID Mapping

show vlan i-sid show vlan info 100

Expected output should show:

  • VLAN 100 mapped to I-SID 10000100
  • VLAN members including edge ports
  • VLAN interface with correct IP address
4

Verify Fabric Forwarding

show isis spbm unicast-fib

Expected output should show:

  • Unicast FIB entries for other fabric switches
  • Outgoing interfaces for each destination
  • Correct costs and area information
5

Test End-to-End Connectivity

Final Test: PC1 should be able to ping PC2 across the fabric.
  • PC1 (connected to VOSSVM-2): 192.168.100.10
  • PC2 (connected to VOSSVM-1): 192.168.100.20
# From PC1 ping 192.168.100.20 # From PC2 ping 192.168.100.10

🎯 Success Criteria

  • ✅ All ISIS adjacencies are Up
  • ✅ SPBM instance shows all switches
  • ✅ VLAN 100 is present on all edge switches
  • ✅ I-SID 10000100 is properly mapped
  • ✅ PC-to-PC connectivity works
  • ✅ Fabric provides redundant paths

Knowledge Check Quiz 🧠

Test your understanding of VOSS Fabric Connect configuration!

1. What must you do before configuring SPBM parameters when ISIS is already enabled?
2. What command must be configured BEFORE ISIS on fabric interfaces?
3. What is the correct VOSS command to enable an interface?
4. Which must be unique per switch in a fabric?
5. What happens when you try to assign a Fabric Attach enabled port to a VLAN?

🏆 Quiz Complete!

Great job working through the VOSS Fabric Connect configuration! You've learned:

  • Critical configuration sequence requirements
  • VOSS-specific command syntax
  • Common troubleshooting scenarios
  • Fabric Attach vs. static VLAN assignment
  • Verification and validation techniques