Configuring Switches in a Stack
SecureStack C3K Hardware Installation Guide 2-15
Configuring Switches in a Stack
The
information
in
the
following
sections
is
important
to
understand
C3K
switch
operation
in
a
stack
installation.
About SecureStack C3K Switch Operation in a Stack
Once
your
C3K
switches
are
installed
in
a
stack,
the
switches
behave
and
perform
as
a
single
switch.
As
such,
you
can
start
with
a
single
switch
and
add
more
switches
as
your
network
expands.
You
can
also
mix
different
C
Series
products
in
a
single
stack
to
provide
a
combination
of
port
types
and
functions
to
match
your
network
requirements.
In
all
cases,
a
stack
of
switches
performs
as
one
large
product,
and
is
managed
as
a
single
network
entity.
When
switches
are
installed
and
connected
as
described
back
in
“
Connecting
High
‐
Speed
Stacking
Cables
”
on
page 2
‐
13,
the
following
occurs
during
initialization:
•
The
switch
that
will
manage
the
stack
is
automatically
established
and
is
referred
to
as
the
Manager
switch.
•
All
other
switches
are
established
as
Member
switches
in
the
stack.
•
The
hierarchy
of
the
switches
that
will
assume
the
function
of
backup
manager
is
also
determined
in
case
the
current
manager
malfunctions,
is
powered
down,
or
is
disconnected
from
the
stack.
•
The
console
port
on
the
manager
switch
remains
active
for
out
‐
of
‐
band
(local)
switch
management,
but
the
console
port
on
each
member
switch
is
deactivated.
This
enables
you
to
set
the
IP
address
and
system
password
using
a
single
console
port.
Now
each
switch
can
be
configured
locally
using
only
the
manager’s
console
port,
or
inband
using
a
remote
device
and
the
CLI
set
of
commands
described
in
this
section.
For
procedures
used
for
various
types
of
connections
to
the
Console
port,
refer
to
“
Connecting
to
Console
Port
for
Local
Management
”
on
page 2
‐
19.
Once
a
stack
is
created
(more
than
one
switch
is
interconnected),
the
following
occurs:
1.
Switch
(unit)
IDs
are
arbitrarily
assigned
on
a
first
‐
come,
first
‐
served
basis.
2.
Switch
IDs
are
saved
against
each
module.
Then,
every
time
a
board
is
power
‐
cycled,
it
will
initialize
with
the
same
switch
ID.
This
is
important
for
port
‐
specific
information
(for
example:
ge.4.12
is
the
12th
Gigabit
Ethernet
port
on
switch
#
4).
3.
The
management
election
process
uses
the
following
precedence
to
assign
a
management
device:
a.
Previously
assigned
/
elected
management
switch
b. Management
assigned
priority
(values
1
‐
15)
c.
Hardware
preference
level
d. Highest
MAC
Address
