Chapter
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Chapter 3: Connecting the Switch
Stacking Multiple Switches
Linksys One Ready Communications Solution
Stacking Multiple Switches
The Stacking configuration provides multiple switch management through a single point as if
all stack master and slaves were a single Ethernet switch. All stack masters are accessed
through a single IP address through which the stack is managed. The stack can be managed
from the the web-based interface or the console interface.
Devices support stacking up to eight Ethernet switches per stack, or can operate as stand-
alone units. During the Stacking setup, the switches auto-select one of the switches as the
Stacking Master. All other devices are named as slave stack members and assigned a
unique Unit ID. One of the slave units is designated as the backup master. The backup
master acts as a slave unit, but can become a stack master in the event of failure of stack
master. The master and backup master are assigned unit IDs of 1 and 2. The Stack Master
provides a single point of control and management as well as a single interface in which to
control and manage the stack.
Switch software is downloaded separately for each stack member. However, all units in the
stack must be running the same software version.
A stack unit can operate in one of the following modes:
• Stand-alone — The unit runs as a standard switch and does not run the stacking
application.
• Master Unit — Manages the Stack and is responsible for the configuration.
• Master-Backup — Runs as a slave unit and monitors the operation of the stack
master.
• Slave — Runs a slave version of the switching algorithm, which allows the
applications running on the master unit to control the resources of the slave unit.
Stacking Highlights
• In stacking mode, each Ethernet switch is
given a unique ID, from 1 to 8.
• Stack IDs 1 and 2 are Master Enabled units.
• All Ethernet switches in the stack must run the
same version of software.
• The Stack Master switch maintains the
configuration.
• Stack cannot combine Linksys SFE2000 and
SGE2000 family Ethernet switches.
• By factory default, Ethernet switches boot in
stacking mode.
• Stack ID can be user assigned or
automatically assigned.
• Stacking ports are available to user in
standalone mode as regular network ports
• Settings are applied only to the master unit;
certain changes take place only after reset
