Cisco Catalyst 3560-X Series, Software Configuration Manual

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Catalyst 3750-X and 3560-X Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-25303-03
Chapter 1 Managing Switch Stacks
Understanding Switch Stacks
Understanding Switch Stacks
A switch stack is a set of up to nine stacking-capable switches connected through their StackWise Plus
or StackWise ports. You can connect only one switch type in a stack, or you can connect a mix of
Catalyst 3750-X, Catalyst 3750-E, and Catalyst 3750 switches in the stack. Catalyst 3750-X and
Catalyst 3750-E stack members have StackWise Plus ports, and Catalyst 3750 members have StackWise
ports. The stack can have one of these configurations:
•
Homogeneous stack—A Catalyst 3750-E-only stack with only Catalyst 3750-E switches as stack
members or a Catalyst 3750-X-only stack with only Catalyst 3750-X switches as stack members.
• Mixed stack
Note Mixed stacks are not supported with switches running the LAN base feature set.
– A mixed hardware stack with a mixture of Catalyst 3750-X, Catalyst 3750-E, and 3750 switches
as stack members.
For example, a stack with Catalyst 3750-X and 3750 switches supporting the IP services
features.
– A mixed software stack with only Catalyst 3750-X, only Catalyst 3750-E, or only Catalyst 3750
switches supporting different features as stack members.
For example, a Catalyst 3750-X-only stack with some members running the IP base feature set,
other members running the IP services feature set, and the remaining members running the IP
services feature set.
–
A mixed hardware and software stack with Catalyst 3750-X, Catalyst 3750-E, and
Catalyst 3750 switches supporting different features as stack members.
For example, a stack with the Catalyst 3750-X members running the IP services feature set and
the Catalyst 3750 members running the IP services software image.
For information about Catalyst 3750 switches, see the “Managing Switch Stacks” chapter in the
Catalyst 3750 Switch Software Configuration Guide .
One of the switches controls the operation of the stack and is called the stack master . The stack master
and the other switches in the stack are all stack members . The Catalyst 3750-E stack members use the
Cisco StackWise Plus technology to work together as a unified system. Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocols
present the entire switch stack as a single entity to the network.
Note
Switch stacks running the LAN base feature set do not support Layer 3 features.
In a mixed stack that has Catalyst 3750-X, Catalyst 3750-E, and Catalyst 3750 switches, we recommend
that a Catalyst 3750-X switch be the master and that all stack members run Cisco IOS
Release 12.2(53)SE2 or later. The Catalyst 3750 image is on the Catalyst 3750-X and 3750-E switches
to simplify switch management.
To upgrade the stack, use the archive download-sw privileged EXEC command to download images to
the master. For example, use the archive download-sw /directory tftp://10.1.1.10/
c3750-ipservicesk9-tar.122-55.SE1.tar c3750e-universalk9-tar.122-55.SE1.tar command to specify
a directory, following the command with the list of tar files to download for the members.
•
The c3750-ipservicesk9-tar.122-55.SE1.tar is for the Catalyst 3750 members.
•
The c3750e-universalk9-tar.122-55.SE1.tar is for the Catalyst 3750-X and 3750-E members.