•
Use the shortest possible stacking cables to connect the switches in the stack. This reduces the
likelihood that the stacking cables might accidentally be damaged or disconnected. Stacking cables
are available in lengths ranging from 0.5 meters to 100 meters.
•
When possible, place all switches for the stack in the same rack or in adjacent racks. This facilitates
using shorter stacking cables.
•
Your stack can consist of any combination of 48-port and 24-port 220 series switches. (12-port
switches cannot be stacked.)
•
You will configure the stack initially through the stack manager, using the console port. For simplicity
and ease of connecting the stacking cables, we recommend that you designate the top switch in a
vertical physical stack as the stack manager. If switches are installed in several adjacent racks, place
the stack manager at one end of the row.
•
If possible, locate the intended manager and standby units adjacent to each other, and connect
them directly to each other.
•
On the stack manager, connect the Ethernet management port to your management network.
•
Use stacking cables to interconnect the switches into a ring topology. Include only the switches that
you expect to be active in the stack.
The recommended procedures for installing and interconnecting a stack are found in
For information about configuring stacks and managing them on a day-to-day basis, see
ExtremeSwitching 200 Series: Administration Guide
.
Recommendations for Configuring Stacks
When deploying a new stack, follow these recommendations for configuring the software:
•
Make sure all switches in the stack are running the same software version. Use the same image
partition on all switches. After stacking is enabled, images can be upgraded from the stack only if
the same image is selected on all switches.
•
You can physically connect the stack to your networks before you configure the stack. However, the
default configuration on a switch in non-stacking mode assumes a default untagged VLAN that
contains all switch ports. When first powered on, the switch acts as a Layer 2 switch, possibly
resulting in network loops.
•
You can configure and manage the stack only through the stack manager.
Follow the recommendations in
Recommendations for Placing Switches for Stacked Operation
on page
53 for physically situating your equipment.
Stacking Cables
Connections between switches in a stack require stacking cables. These cables are available from
Extreme Networks in varying lengths.
You can use the following cables as stacking connectors for 220 series switches.
•
10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ passive cable, 1 meter (part number 10304)
•
10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ passive cable, 3 meters (part number 10305)
Building Stacks
ExtremeSwitching 210 and 220 Series Switches: Hardware Installation Guide
54
