With the mandatory need for high availability in modern data centers and enterprise networks, VLT plays a vital role with rapid convergence, seamless traffic flow, efficient load balancing, and loop-free mechanics.
VLT configured in the Dell SmartFabric OS10 operating system functions by aggregating two identical physical switches to form one single logical switch.
Two switches appear as a single switch on the network with all the links in VLT that can carry traffic across many physically diverse topologies. Implementing VLT enables multiple parallel paths between nodes without loops and includes traffic load balancing when alternate paths exist. The outcome is high availability and high resilience for connected access, core switches, and clients during switch firmware upgrades. If a link fails, traffic continues to flow with minimal disruption.
VLT provides the following benefits:
- Provides node-level redundancy and load sharing by using the same port-channel terminating on multiple upstream nodes.
- Provides a loop-free topology.
- Eliminates STP-blocked ports.
- Optimizes bandwidth utilization by using all available uplink bandwidth.
- Guarantees fast convergence if either a link or device fails.
- Enhances optimized forwarding with Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP).
- Optimizes routing with VLT peer routing for Layer 3 VLANs.
- Enables Layer 3 routing protocol support in VLT LAGs with scaled Layer 3 VLAN support.
- Provides link-level resiliency.
- Assures high availability without taking the network offline during firmware upgrades.