Managing Device Information
Managing Stacking
Cisco Small Business SFE/SGE Managed Switches Administration Guide
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Stand-alone Mode
Devices operating in stand-alone mode run as a independent -single unit. All ports
of a stand-alone switch operate as normal Ethernet links. A stand-alone switch
does not participate in a stack even if the device is physically connected to a
stack. However, a unit whose mode is changed from Stack to Stand-alone retains
its stacking configuration information. That information is restored if the unit is
returned to Stack mode.
Stack Mode
Devices operating in stack mode are not an independent unit, but are members of
an organized group of switches known as a stack. A stack consists of a Master, a
Backup Master switch, and up to six stacking member switches.
As a special case, a unit operating in Stacking mode, which is not connected to
any other units, may operate as a stack–of-one.
The following device ports of each unit in a stack mode are reserved as stacking
links, and cannot be used for regular network connections.
•
SFE2000 - Default stacking ports: G1, G2. Configurable stacking port: G3/GBIC
1, G4/GBIC 2
•
SGE2000 - Default stacking ports: 12/GBIC 3, 24/GBIC 4.
•
SFE2010 - Default stacking ports: G1, G2. Configurable stacking port: GBIC 1,
GBIC 2.
•
SGE2010 - Default stacking ports: 24/GBIC 3, 48/GBIC 4
Configuring a Stack
A stack is initialized by the following sequence of operations:
•
Physical connection of the switches in a stack topology. The system
administrator connects the switches to be included in the stack in the
desired order and topology (ring or chain).
•
Powering on of the units. The system administrator powers on all the
connected units. (A new stack consisting of factory default units may also
be built by powering the units on one by one, as described in
Recommended Procedures for Building a Stack).
