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Administration: Stack Management
Stack Topology
Cisco Small Business 200, 300 and 500 Series Managed Switch Administration Guide (Internal Version) 62
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Stack Topology
Types of Stack Topology
The units in a stack can be connected in one of the following types of topologies:
Chain Topology—One stack port (either left or right) of the first unit is connected to
the stack port in the second unit. All units in the stack are connected to the stack
port in the next unit except for the first and last unit. “Stack Architecture (Chain
Top olo gy)” shows a chain topology.
Ring Topology—All the units in the stack are connected in a chain. The last unit is
connected to the first unit. The following shows a ring topology of an eight-unit
stack:
Stack in Ring Topology
A ring topology is more reliable than a chain topology. The failure of one link in a
ring does not affect the function of the stack, whereas the failure of one link in a
chain connection might cause the stack to be split.
Topology Discovery
A stack is established by a process called topology discovery. This process is
triggered by a change in the up/down status of a stack port.
The following are examples of events that trigger this process:
• Changing the stack topology from a ring to a chain