Reference Guide

Cables for Stacked Switches
Before you attach cables to set up a stack of S5000 switches, ensure that the Dell Networking OS version
running on each unit is the same (the show version command) and that all switches are powered
down.
Review the cabling requirements in Stack and Cable Requirements.
To connect 10 GbE and 40 GbE stacking ports, use normal port cables. For detailed cabling information,
refer to the Dell Networking S5000 Installation Guide.
NOTE: The S5000 does not require special stacking cables. The cables used to connect 10 GbE and
40 GbE data ports are sufficient.
The following cabling procedure uses a ring topology. Follow the same steps to cable switches in any of
the stacking topologies shown in Supported Stacking Topologies. To attach the port cables, follow these
steps:
1. Connect four 10 GbE ports in a stack group on stack unit 1 to four ports in a stack group on stack
unit 2.
2. Connect four 10 GbE ports in another stack group on stack unit 2 to four ports in a stack group on
stack unit 3.
3. Connect four 10 GbE ports in another stack group on stack unit 3 to four ports in a stack group on
stack unit 4.
4. Connect four 10 GbE ports in another stack group on stack unit 4 to four ports in a stack group on
stack unit 1.
The resulting ring topology allows the entire stack to function as a single switch with resilient fail-over
capabilities. If you do not connect the last switch to the first switch (Step 4), the stack operates in a daisy
chain topology with less resiliency. Any failure in a non-edge stack unit causes a split stack.
Accessing the Stack CLI
To configure a stack, access the CLI through the stack master using the console port or a VTY line.
• Console access: You can access the stack through an attached console connection to the master
switch to log in to the CLI. Console access to the stack CLI is available on the master. The console
port of the standby unit does not provide management capability; only a limited number of
commands are available.
• Remote access: You can access the stack CLI using the IP address of the dedicated management
Ethernet interfaces on the master switch through an SNMP, SSH, or Telnet connection.
Assigning a Priority to Stacked Switches
By default, each stack unit is assigned priority 0.
The switch with the highest priority number is elected master. The switch with the next highest priority
number is elected standby and takes over stack management if the master switch fails. The range of valid
priority values is from 1 to 14.
To configure or revert assigning stacked switch priority, use the following commands.
1. Configure a stack so that the roles are assigned according to pre-determined priorities instead of
using the highest MAC addresses.
Stacking
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