Quick Reference Guide

84 | Stacking S-Series Switches
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
• The original S50 model can only be stacked with another S50. The number of S50s in a stack is limited
by the number of S50s with 10G modules (the hardware supports stacking eight units, but the current
software implementation limits stack size to seven), but, again, Dell Force10 currently only supports a
stack maximum of three units.
• Each switch member must run the same version of SFTOS.
• Upgrading the management unit software image automatically upgrades other units in the stack.
Starting with SFTOS 2.5.1, you can also upgrade a stack member separately.
• Configuration files are automatically distributed to all units from the management unit.
Figure 5-54 shows two common ways to connect switches together with stacking cables, each with cables
between Stack Port A and Stack Port B (on the back of each S50). However, it does not matter whether you
connect an A port to a B port, A to A, B to B, etc. The ports are interchangeable and bi-directional. For
more on hardware stacking options, see the installation guide appropriate to your system.
Figure 5-54. Methods for Cabling Stacks
Note: The S50V can have up to four stack ports installed, so Figure 5-54 does not depict all
possible ways of managing an S50V stack. For details on S50V stack options, see its
installation guide.
AB
Switch 1
AB
Switch 2
AB
Switch 3
Ring Connection Cascade Connection
AB
Switch 1
AB
Switch 2
AB
Switch 3
AB
Switch 4