Description

This article explains the VCP port flapping issue and troubleshooting steps in virtual-chassis setup

 

root@userA> show virtual-chassis status

Virtual Chassis ID: 3cb7.xxxx.xxxx

Virtual Chassis Mode: Enabled

                                               Mstr          Mixed Route Neighbor List

Member ID Status  Serial No   Model         prio Role     Mode Mode ID Interface

0 (FPC 0) Prsnt   Vxxxxxxxxx9 qfx5100 255  Master*     N VC  1 vcp-255/0/99

1 (FPC 1) Prsnt   Vxxxxxxxxxx0 qfx5100 150  Backup      N VC  0 vcp-255/0/102

 

 

Symptoms

 During VCP port flapping issue, we will notice interface flaps and carrier transaction counter increase happening. It will cause instability in the network by compromising the redundancy of VCP links and it may also cause traffic drops in the network.

Sample Output During Issue State:

Physical interface: vcp-255/0/102, Enabled, Physical link is Up
 Interface index: 129, SNMP ifIndex: 333, Generation: 132
 Type: 105, Link-level type: Virtual-Chassis-Interface, MTU: 1514, Clocking: Unspecified, Speed: 40000mbps
 Device flags  : Present Running
 Link type     : Full-Duplex
 Link flags    : None
 Physical info : Unspecified
 Hold-times    : Up 0 ms, Down 0 ms
 Current address: Unspecified, Hardware address: Unspecified
 Alternate link address: Unspecified
 Last flapped  : 2023-06-16 02:21:44 UTC (00:00:19 ago)
 Statistics last cleared: Never
 Traffic statistics:
  Input bytes :         32978346331            49073744 bps
  Output bytes :         18019401405             4068264 bps
  Input packets:            62689349                7163 pps
  Output packets:            24571394                2281 pps
  IPv6 transit statistics:
  Input bytes :                   0
  Output bytes :                   0
  Input packets:                   0
  Output packets:                   0
 Input errors:
   Errors: 1030, Drops: 0, Framing errors: 1030, Runts: 0, Giants: 0, Bucket drops: 0, Policed discards: 0, Resource errors: 0
 Output errors:
   Carrier transitions: 667, Errors: 0, Drops: 0, MTU errors: 0, Resource errors: 0, Bucket drops: 0

 > Interface will keep on flapping in every 2-3 mins

Solution

Carrier transitions means the number of times that the interface has gone from down to up. This number does not normally increment quickly; increasing only when the cable is unplugged, the far-end system is powered down and then up, or another issue occurs. If the number of carrier transitions increments quickly (perhaps once every 10 seconds), the cable, far-end system, PIC  (Physical Interface Cards) or PIM (Physical Interface Module) is malfunctioning.

Recovery:

1. Replace QSFP module with any working QSFP

2. If in case it still behaves same, then replace VCP cable

3. For more details, refer below KB article, it will cover the other troubleshooting aspects of virtual-chassis issues:

https://supportportal.juniper.net/s/article/EX-QFX-Resolution-Guide-Troubleshoot-Virtual-Chassis-VC

 

Modification History

2023-08-11:Initial Version