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Virtual Link Trunking (VLT)
Virtual link trunking (VLT) allows physical links between two chassis to appear as a single virtual link to the network core or
other switches such as Edge, Access or ToR. VLT reduces the role of Spanning Tree protocols by allowing LAG terminations on
two separate distribution or core switches, and by supporting a loop free topology.
(A Spanning Tree protocol is still needed to prevent the initial loop that may occur prior to VLT being established. After VLT
is established, RSTP may be used to prevent loops from forming with new links that are incorrectly connected and outside the
VLT domain.)
Topics:
Overview
VLT Terminology
Configure Virtual Link Trunking
RSTP Configuration
PVST+ Configuration
VLT Sample Configuration
eVLT Configuration Example
PIM-Sparse Mode Configuration Example
Verifying a VLT Configuration
Additional VLT Sample Configurations
Troubleshooting VLT
Reconfiguring Stacked Switches as VLT
Specifying VLT Nodes in a PVLAN
Configuring a VLT VLAN or LAG in a PVLAN
Proxy ARP Capability on VLT Peer Nodes
VLT Nodes as Rendezvous Points for Multicast Resiliency
Configuring VLAN-Stack over VLT
IPv6 Peer Routing in VLT Domains Overview
Overview
VLT provides Layer 2 multipathing, creating redundancy through increased bandwidth, enabling multiple parallel paths between
nodes and load-balancing traffic where alternative paths exist.
Virtual link trunking offers the following benefits:
Allows a single device to use a LAG across two upstream devices.
Eliminates STP-blocked ports.
Provides a loop-free topology.
Uses all available uplink bandwidth.
Provides fast convergence if either the link or a device fails.
Optimized forwarding with virtual router redundancy protocol (VRRP).
Provides link-level resiliency.
Assures high availability.
CAUTION:
Dell Networking does not recommend enabling Stacking and VLT simultaneously. If you enable both
features at the same time, unexpected behavior occurs.
As shown in the following example, VLT presents a single logical Layer 2 domain from the perspective of attached devices that
have a virtual link trunk terminating on separate chassis in the VLT domain. However, the two VLT chassis are independent
Layer2/Layer3 (L2/L3) switches for devices in the upstream network. L2/L3 control plane protocols and system management
features function normally in VLT mode. Features such as VRRP and internet group management protocol (IGMP) snooping
require state information coordinating between the two VLT chassis. IGMP and VLT configurations must be identical on both
sides of the trunk to ensure the same behavior on both sides.
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Virtual Link Trunking (VLT) 917