Supermicro Intelligent Switch, User Manual

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Release :
1.0
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4 Stacking
Super Micro Intelligent switch supports stacking of Super Micro switch units. Switch stacking is
created by connecting switches in daisy chain. One of the stacked switch is selected as Master
based on configurations. Master switch provides management support for the whole stack. Other
switches in the stack are referred as slave switches.
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Make sure all stacked switches runs the same version of firmware.
Master switch manages the control plane traffic for all stacked switches. When current master
switch fails, the backup master is selected as current master.
Master selection algorithem is based on priority configuration. If two switches has the same
priority the switch with lowest MAC address gets selected as Master switch.
Enabling Stacking
Super Micro switches by default act as stand alone switches. This standalone default facilitates
using 10G Ethernet ports as Extrement Ethernet ports for uplinks.
When stacking is enabled the stacking ports are dedicated for stacking purpose.
Stacking can be enabled using command “stack” with switch identifier and priority.
The detailed command syntax is explained in the below texts.
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When stacking is enabled, the switch needs to rebooted to take it effective.
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When switch is acting as stand alone switch with stacking is disabled, all physical
interfaces are numbered as 0/1 to 0/n. When the switch is in stacking mode, the interfaces
are numbered as <switch id>/1 to <switch id> / n. In non-stacking mode, it is considered
switch id as 0.
Super Micro switches has intelligence to use and restore the existing stand alone configurations
when the switch is moved to stacking mode.
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The configurations files stored when the switch was in stand alone mode (no stacking),
the configurations were using interface numbers as 0/X. When this file is loaded after
enabling stacking, the interface numbers are used with reference to current switch id.
Adding Stacking Members
Connect stack switches using stacking cables. For better redundancy, connect the switches as
daisy chain as shown in below diagram. This chain connectivity helps maintaining stacking in
case of single link or switch failures.
Before connecting switches in stacking make sure stacking is enabled in all switches and switch
identifier, priorities are configured properly.