Brocade FastIron Ethernet Switch Platform and Layer 2 Switching Configuration Guide - Manual (Page 155)

Multi-Chassis Trunking
● Supported MCT features...............................................................................................155
● Multi-Chassis Trunking Overview..................................................................................155
● Layer 2 behavior with MCT........................................................................................... 173
● Layer 3 behavior with MCT........................................................................................... 183
● Displaying MCT information.......................................................................................... 190
● MCT configuration examples ....................................................................................... 195
Supported MCT features
Lists Multi-Chassis Trunking features supported on FastIron devices.
The following table lists the individual Brocade FastIron switches and the Multi-Chassis Trunking (MCT)
features they support.
Feature ICX 6430 ICX 6450 FCX ICX 6610 ICX 6650 FSX 800
FSX 1600 ICX 7750
MCT No No No No 08.0.01 08.0.01 08.0.10
Cluster client automatic configuration No No No No 08.0.01 08.0.01 08.0.10
Cluster operation features No No No No 08.0.01 08.0.01 08.0.10
xSTP BPDU forwarding No No No No 08.0.01 08.0.01 08.0.10
IPv6 Multicast Snooping (PIM6-SM
snooping) with MCT No No No No 08.0.01 08.0.01 2 No
Multi-Chassis Trunking Overview
Multi-Chassis Trunking (MCT) is an alternative to spanning tree protocols. Spanning tree is a
technology that protects the network against loops by blocking necessary ports, and having the network
span to relearn topologies when one link fails in a network. MCT is a technology that allows two MCT-
supporting switches to cluster together and appear as a single logical device. Trunking is a technology
that allows multiple links of a device to appear as one logical link. The combination of MCT and trunking
allows for creating a resilient network topology that utilizes all links in the network, creating an ideal
network topology for latency sensitive applications.
Standard static or dynamic LACP trunks provide link-level redundancy and increased capacity.
However, trunks do not provide device-level redundancy. If the device to which the trunk is attached
fails, the entire trunk loses network connectivity. Two devices are needed for network resiliency with
trunked links to both devices. With spanning tree, one of these trunks would be blocked from use until
the failure of the other trunk is detected, taking from 1 to 30 seconds potentially adding latency and
2 3rd generation modules.
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