Administrator Guide

Configuring a Switch Stack
To configure and bring up a switch stack, follow these steps:
1. Connect the 40GbE ports on the base module of two Aggregators using 40G direct attach or QSFP
fibre cables.
2. Configure each Aggregator to operate in stacking mode.
3. Reload each Aggregator, one after the other in quick succession.
Stacking Prerequisites
Before you cable and configure a stack of MXL 10/40GbE switches, review the following prerequisites.
• All Aggregators in the stack must be powered up with the initial or startup configuration before you
attach the cables.
• All stacked Aggregators must run the same Dell Networking OS version. The minimum Dell
networking OS version required is 8.3.17.0. To check the version that a switch is running, use the show
version command. To download a Dell Networking OS version, go to http://support.dell.com.
• Stacking is supported only with other Aggregators. A maximum of six Aggregators are supported in a
single stack. You cannot stack the Aggregator with MXL 10/40GbE Switches or another type of switch.
• A maximum of four stack groups (40GbE ports) is supported on a stacked Aggregator.
• Interconnect the stack units by following the instructions in Cabling Stacked Switches.
• You cannot stack a Standalone IOA and a PMUX.
Cabling Stacked Switches
Before you configure MXL switches in a stack, connect the 40G direct attach or QSFP cables and
transceivers to connect 40GbE ports on two Aggregators in the same or different chassis.
Cabling Restrictions
The following restrictions apply when setting up a stack of Aggregators:
• Only daisy-chain or ring topologies are supported; star and full mesh topologies are not supported.
• Stacking is supported only on 40GbE links by connecting 40GbE ports on the base module. Stacking
is not supported on 10GbE ports or 4x10GbE ports.
• Use only QSFP transceivers and QSFP or direct attach cables (purchased separately) to connect
stacking ports.
Cabling Redundancy
Connect the units in a stack with two or more stacking cables to avoid a stacking port or cable failure.
Removing one of the stacked cables between two stacked units does not trigger a reset.
Cabling Procedure
The following cabling procedure uses the stacking topology shown earlier in this chapter.
To connect the cabling:
1. Connect a 40GbE base port on the first Aggregator to a 40GbE base port on another Aggregator in
the same chassis.
2. Connect a 40GbE base port on the second Aggregator to a 40GbE port on the first Aggregator.
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Stacking