[j-nsp] Clustering J-series across a switch

[Mike Williams]

Hey all,

So I've been reading the clustering docs, and they make it pretty clear that 
the (at least) control link should connect the devices "back-to-back".
I don't have the page to hand but there is an option to configure the control 
link in the old way, using (a?) VLAN (4094 IIRC), otherwise new clusters will 
use a special ether-type.

Now if Junos is going to use a new ether-type for control link communication 
it's pretty certain the devices would have to be connected "back-to-back", but 
if control link traffic is within a specific VLAN switching it shouldn't be a 
problem, right? I'd q-in-q the traffic anyway.

The health of the control and fabric links is determined by heartbeats only, 
not link state, so a switch wouldn't hurt that.

I accept that clustering across a switch isn't necessarily advisable, I'm just 
wondering if it's fundamentally possible.
Has anyone ever even tried to put a switch between a J-series, or SRX-series, 
cluster?

Thanks


Currently we've 2 J6350s on different floors of a building, with different 
providers. Around that building we have a 10Gbps VC ring of EX3300s. We want 
to cluster the J-series' but don't want the hassle or cost of running copper 
between the providers (if that's even possible) when the VC is way more than 
fast enough.
Traffic levels are way way below 10Gbps, and it's highly unlikely they'll ever 
get that high.

-- 
Mike Williams