Intraconnect Module And Virtual Chassis Module; Virtual Chassis - Juniper EX4500 Hardware Manual

Redundant Routing Engines in a Virtual Chassis configuration. This redundancy enables graceful Routing
Engine switchover (GRES).
Junos OS with its modular design that enables failed system processes to gracefully restart.

Intraconnect Module and Virtual Chassis Module

EX4500 switches ship with either the intraconnect module or the Virtual Chassis module preinstalled in
the switch. Only one of the modules can be installed on the rear side of the switch chassis at a time. Both
modules are offline FRUs.
Intraconnect module—The intraconnect module helps the switch achieve line rate on all its ports. See
"Intraconnect Module in EX4500 Switches" on page
Virtual Chassis module—The Virtual Chassis module has two dedicated Virtual Chassis ports (VCPs) that
can be used to interconnect the EX4500 switch with EX4200 switches, EX4500 switches, or EX4550
switches to form a Virtual Chassis. See
NOTE: Operating an EX4500 switch without the intraconnect module or the Virtual Chassis
module is not supported.
EX4500 switches running Junos OS Release 10.4R2 or later 10.4 releases will not boot if you
do not install the intraconnect module in the switch.
EX4500 switches running Junos OS Release 11.1R1 or later releases will not boot if you install
neither the intraconnect module nor the Virtual Chassis module in the switch.
NOTE: The Virtual Chassis module is supported on EX4500 switches in Junos OS Releases 11.1
and later.

Virtual Chassis

The number of EX4500 switches that can be interconnected into a Virtual Chassis composed exclusively
of EX4500 switches depends on the Junos OS release running on the switches. See
EX4500, and EX4550 Virtual Chassis Hardware Configurations" on page
EX4200, EX4500, and EX4550 switches can be connected together into the same Virtual Chassis to form
a mixed Virtual Chassis. The number of EX4200, EX4500, and EX4550 switches that can be interconnected
into a mixed Virtual Chassis depends on the Junos OS release running on the switches. See
EX4200, EX4500, and EX4550 Virtual Chassis Hardware Configurations" on page
50.
"Virtual Chassis Module in EX4500 Switches" on page 44.
"Understanding EX4200,
103.
"Understanding
103.
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