Overview - Allied Telesis AT-x510-28GTX Installation Manual

Chapter 2: Virtual Chassis Stacking

Overview

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The Virtual Chassis Stacking (VCStack) feature allows you to connect up
four x510 Series switches to form a virtual switch in which the devices
function as a single networking unit. The benefits of the VCStack feature
are:
 Simplifies management - You can manage the devices of the stack
as a single unit, rather than individually. Your local and remote
management sessions automatically give you management
access to all the devices.

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, The one
address gives you management access to all the units.
 Adds feature flexibility and resiliency - A stack gives you more
flexibility in how you can configure some features. For instance,
you can create port aggregators of ports from different switches in
the stack, rather than from only one switch. If you distribute the
ports of an aggregator across two or more switches in a stack, you
increase its resiliency because the aggregator will continue to
function, though at a reduced bandwidth, if one of the switches
stops functioning.
 Reduces protocol requirements - Creating a stack might eliminate
your need to configure some protocols, such as the Virtual Router
Redundancy Protocol and Spanning Tree Protocol.