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Chapter 3: Stacking
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Stacking Overview
Stacking provides multiple switch management through a single point as if
all stack members are a single unit. All stack members are accessed
through a single IP address through which the stack is managed. The
stack can be managed using the following interfaces:
Web-based Interface
SNMP Management Station
Command Line Interface (CLI)
Devices support stacking up to six units per stack, or can operate as
stand-alone units. During the Stacking setup, one switch is selected as the
Stacking Master and another stacking member can be selected as the
Secondary Master. All other devices are selected as stack members, and
assigned a unique Unit ID.
Switch software is downloaded separately for each stack member.
However, all units in the stack must be running the same software version.
Switch stacking and configuration is maintained by the Stacking Master.
The Stacking Master detects and reconfigures the ports with minimal
operational impact in the event of:
Unit Failure
Inter-unit Stacking Link Failure
Unit Insertion
Removing a Stacking Unit
This section includes the following topics:
“Stacking Ring Topology,” next
“Stacking Chain Topology,” next
“Stacking Members and Unit ID,” next
“Removing and Replacing Stacking Members,” next
“Exchanging Stacking Members,” next
Stacking Ring
Topology
Stacked devices operate in a Ring topology. A Ring topology is where all
devices in the stack are connected to each other forming a circle. Each
stacked device accepts data and sends it to the device to which it is
physically connected. The packet continues through the stack until it
reaches the destination port. The system automatically discovers the
optimal path on which to send traffic.
Most difficulties in Ring topologies occur when a device in the ring
becomes non-functional, or a link is severed. In a stack, the system