Administrator Guide

When a unit is added to a stack, the management unit performs a system check on the new unit to ensure the hardware type is
compatible. A similar check is performed on the Dell Networking OS version. If the stack is running Dell Networking OS version 8.3.12.0 and
the new unit is running an earlier software version, the new unit is put into a card problem state.
• If the unit is running Dell Networking OS version 8.3.10.x, it is upgraded to use the same Dell Networking OS version as the stack,
rebooted, and joined the stack.
• If the new unit is running an Dell Networking OS version prior to 8.3.10.x , the unit is put into a card problem state, Dell Networking OS
is not upgraded, and a syslog message is raised. The unit must be upgraded to Dell Networking OS version 8.3.12.0 before you can
proceed.
Syslog messages are generated by the management unit:
• before the management unit downloads its Dell Networking OS version 8.3.12.0 or later to the new unit. The syslog includes the unit
number, previous version, and version being downloaded.
• when the rmware synchronization is complete.
• if the system check fails, a message such as a hardware incompatibility message or incompatible uboot version is generated. If the unit
is placed in a card problem state, the management unit also generates an SNMP trap.
• if the software version of the new unit predates Dell Networking OS version 8.3.12.0 , the management unit puts the new unit into a
card problem state and generates a syslog that identies the unit, its Dell Networking OS version, and its incompatibility for rmware
synchronization.
NOTE: You must enter the stack-unit stack-unit stack-group stack-group command when adding units to a stack
to ensure the units are assigned to the correct groups.
NOTE: Any scripts used to streamline the stacking conguration process must be updated to reect the Command Mode change
from EXEC to CONFIGURATION to allow the scripts to work correctly.
Enabling Front End Port Stacking
To enable the front ports on a unit for stacking, use the following commands.
NOTE
: After a port has been allocated for stacking, you can only use it for stacking. If stack-group 0 is allocated for stacking, you
can use ports 0, 1, 2, and 3 for stacking but not for Ethernet anymore. If only port 0 is used for stacking, ports 1, 2, and 3 are
spare; they cannot be used for Ethernet.
NOTE: You can stack a maximum of eight 10G stack ports.
1 Assign a stack group for each unit.
CONFIGURATION mode
stack-unit id stack-group id
Begin with the rst port on the management unit. Next, congure both ports on each subsequent unit. Finally, return to the
management unit and congure the last port.
2 Save the stacking conguration on the ports.
EXEC Privilege mode
write memory
3 Reload the switch.
EXEC Privilege mode
reload
Dell Networking OS automatically assigns a number to the new unit and adds it as member switch in the stack.
The new unit synchronizes its running and startup congurations with the stack.
4 After the units are reloaded, the system reboots. The units come up in a stack after the reboot completes.
To view the port assignments, use the show system stack-unit command.
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Stacking