Installing the Switch
22
NXA-ENET24 Hardware Installation Guide
5.
Complete the stack connections by plugging one end of a stack cable into the Tx port on the bottom unit
and the other end into the Rx port on the top unit.
6.
Select the Master unit in the stack by pressing the push button in on only one of the switches. Only one
switch in the stack can operate as the Master, all other units operate in slave mode. If more than one
switch in the stack is selected as Master, or if no switches are selected, the stack will not function.
Connecting Switches in a Ring-Topology Stack
FIG. 17 on page 23 shows how the stack cables are connected between switches in a stack. The connection
uses Category 5 Ethernet cables. The switch supports a line and ring-topology stacking configuration, or can
be used stand alone.
In line-topology stacking, there is a single stack cable connection between each switch that carries two-way
communications across the stack. In ring-topology stacking, an extra cable is connected between the top and
bottom switches forming a "ring" or "closed-loop." The closed-loop cables provides a redundant path for the
stack link, so if one link fails, stack communications can be maintained. FIG. 17 illustrates a ring-topology
stacking configuration.
To connect up to eight switches in a stack, perform the following steps:
1.
Enable the stacking ports in each unit (i.e., the Stack button pushed out).
2.
Plug one end of a stack cable into the "Up" (right) port of the top unit.
3.
Plug the other end of the stack cable into the "Down" (left) port of the next unit.
4.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each unit in the stack. Form a simple chain starting at the "Up" port on the top
unit and ending at the "Down" port on the bottom unit (stacking up to 8 units).
5.
For ring-topology stacking, complete the connections by plugging one end of a stack cable into the Up
port on the bottom unit and the other end into the Down port on the top unit.
FIG. 16
Connecting Switches in a Stack
The stacking feature requires that all stacking transceiver ports be connected and the
switches powered on. If one stack link is not connected, or if a switch is powered off,
the stack will not function.
Pressing the Stack button during normal operation will cause the system to reboot.