Allied Telesis AT-FAN08, Installation Manual

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Chapter 2: Virtual Chassis Stacking
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Overview
The Virtual Chassis Stacking (VCStack) feature lets you build a virtual
stack of up to four SBx908 GEN2 Series switches. The feature allows the
switches to function as a single networking unit, with the following
benefits:
 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, 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 the available configurations of 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 or Spanning Tree Protocol.