Overview - Allied Telesis AT-x550-18XTQ Installation Manual

Chapter 2: Virtual Chassis Stacking

Overview

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The Virtual Chassis Stacking (VCStack) feature is used to connect
multiple x550 Series switches into a single, virtual networking unit. Some
of the benefits of the VCStack feature are listed here:
 Simplifies management - You can manage the devices of the stack
as a single unit, rather than individually. Your local and remote
management sessions give you management access to all the
switches in the stack.
 Reduces IP addresses - A stack requires only one IP address for
remote management access, thereby reducing the number of IP
addresses you have to assign to network devices.
 Adds feature flexibility and resiliency - A stack gives you more
flexibility in the available configurations of features. For instance,
you can create port aggregators of ports from different switches in
a stack, rather than from only one switch. Distributing the ports of
an aggregator across two or more switches in a stack increases its
resiliency because it can continue to function, though at a reduced
bandwidth, even if one of the switches stops functioning.

Reduces protocol requirements - Building a stack might eliminate
the need to configure some protocols, such as the Virtual Router
Redundancy Protocol or Spanning Tree Protocol.