Specifications

D-Link xStack Switch Series: Meeting the Need at the Edge of the Network 17
D-Link Systems, Inc.
October 2004
Subordinate Switch Activities
Each switch has tables for storing its own local MAC addresses as well as tables for the other
MAC addresses in the stack. The master switch keeps tables of all the MAC addresses reported
to the stack. The master also creates a map of all the MAC addresses in the entire stack and
distributes it to all the subordinates. Each switch becomes aware of every port in the stack. This
eliminates repetitive learning processes and creates a much faster and more efficient switching
infrastructure for the system.
Subordinate switches keep their own spanning trees for each VLAN that they support. The
master switch keeps a copy of all spanning tree tables for each VLAN in the stack. When a new
VLAN is added, or removed, all the existing switches will receive a notification of this event and
update their tables accordingly.
Subordinate switches wait to receive copies of the running configurations from the master, and
begin start transmitting data upon receipt of the most current information. This ensures that all
the switches will use only the most current information and that there is only one network
topology used for forwarding decisions.
Adding New Members
When the switching stack has established a master, any new switch added afterward
automatically becomes a subordinate. All the current routing and addressing information is
downloaded into the subordinate so that it can immediately begin transmitting traffic. Its ports
become identified with the IP address of the master switch. Global information, such as QoS
configuration settings, is downloaded into the new subordinate member.
Upgrades Apply to All Devices in the Stack
Because the switch stack behaves like a single unit, upgrades apply universally to all members of
the stack at once. This means that the first time a D-Link software upgrade is applied, all units in
the stack will take on the characteristic of the image applied. All D-Link switch software
upgrades are free of charge.
Cross-Stack Link Aggregation Connections
Because all the ports in a stack behave as one logical unit, Link Aggregation can operate across
multiple, physical devices in the stack. D-Link Software can aggregate up to eight separate
physical ports from any switches in the stack into one logical channel uplink. Up to 32 Link
Aggregation groups are supported per stack.