VSS :

Virtual Switching System (VSS) is a method to combine two physical switches into
one logical switch to achieve physical redundancy, Spanning-Tree blocking
elimination, and increased bandwidth.

A Virtual switching system (VSS) combines a pair of Catalyst 4500X series switches
into a single network component, enabling them to function as one logical
switch.Cisco Virtual Switching System is a clustering technology that pools two
Cisco Catalyst 4500X Series Switches into a single virtual switch.

In a VSS, the data plane of both clustered switches is active at the same time in
both chassis.
Connected via VSL Links : Virtual Switch Links carry regular user traffic in
addition to control data between the VSS members

By configuring VSS on botch switches, there is one active RP (Route Processor) and
one hot standby RP. When the active RP fails, the hot standby RP will take over
operations without the loss of data.

Requirements:

- Supervisor Engine 7-E : Both chassis must have the same number of slots
- Supervisor Engine 7L-E : Both chassis must have the same number of slots
- Catalyst 4500-X
- Minimum IOS XE 3.4.0SG

Benefits :
Physical Redundancy
HA
Increased Bandwidth
Nonstop Communciation
Uses MEC(MultiEtherChannel) to bond Catalyst switches together
6500 | 4500 and now 3850 since early 2017.

Multi-Chassis EtherChannel (MEC):

is an Etherchannel whose member ports are distributed across the member switches in
a VSS. The fact that ports from both chassis of the Virtual Switching System are
included in this etherchannel makes it a Multichassis EtherChannel (MEC). Because
you connect the uplinks to two switches functioning as one, there is no need for
spanning-tree to block one of the links. So instead of two uplinks with one blocked
by spanning-tree, there are two active links which makes it possible to use a 2 x
1/10/40Gb etherchannel as uplink.
is an Etherchannel whose member ports can be distributed across the member switches
in a VSS

Dual Active Detection:

To prevent both switches from becoming active, there is a mechanism called �Dual
active detection� or VSLP (Virtual Switch Link Protocol).
Modes are :

- PagP
- Fast-hello