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Figure 128. S5000 Supported Stacking Topologies
Configuring an S5000 Switch Stack
To configure and bring up a switch stack, follow these steps.
1. Power down the switches stack and attach port cables to connect the ports between pairs of switches. Connect ports with
the same speed on each pair of stacked switches.
2. Power up each stack unit.
3. Configure the stacking ports on each switch, including unit number and priority.
4. Save the stacking configuration to the startup configuration and reload each stacked switch, one after another.
Stack and Cable Requirements
Before you cable a stack of S5000 switches, review the following requirements.
You can connect up to a maximum of six S5000s in a single stack.
Use SFP+/QSFP+ transceivers and SFP+/QSFP+ cables or direct attach cables (DACs) to connect stacking ports.
Attach cables only when stack units are powered down. Use SFP+ cables to connect 10GbE ports; use QSFP+ cables to
connect 40GbE ports. For more information, refer to the Dell Networking S5000 Installation Guide.
Stacking is supported only with other S5000 switches. You cannot stack an S5000 switch with other S-Series switches.
Only daisy-chain or ring topologies are supported; star and full mesh topologies are not supported.
Stacking is not supported on Fibre Channel ports. If you install a Fibre Channel module in the switch, the following warning
message displays when you configure a stack group on Ethernet ports: % Error: Cannot configure stack group
when FC module is enabled.
Although you can have 10 GbE and 40 GbE links in an S5000 stack, connect ports with the same speed on each pair of
stacked switches: cable 10 GbE to 10 GbE ports or 40 GbE to 40 GbE ports.
Stacking is not supported on 40 GbE ports operating in 4x10G (quad) mode. To convert a fixed 40 GbE port on the front
panel from 4x10GbE mode of operation to 40 GbE mode, refer to Converting Four 10 GbE Ports to 40 GbE Ports for
Stacking.
If you use three or more units in an S5000 stack, you can connect up to eight 10 GbE or two 40 GbE links between peer
switches. If you use only two units in an S5000 stack, you can connect up to four 40 GbE links between peer switches.
Stacking
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