Reference Guide

• 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.
• All stacked S5000 switches must run the same Dell Networking OS version. The minimum Dell
Networking OS version required is 9.1(1.0). To check the Dell Networking OS version that a switch is
running, power on the switch and enter the show version command. To download a Dell
Networking OS version, go to http://support.dell.com.
• Stacking is not supported on switches enabled for virtual link trunking (VLT). To convert a stack unit to
VLT operation, refer to Reconfiguring Stacked Switches as VLT.
NOTE: Enable stacking on an S5000 switch by specifying one or more stack groups. A stack group
can consist of four 10 GbE ports or one 40 GbE port. If you enable stacking on a group of four 10
GbE ports, all ports in the stack group are enabled for stacking. To maximize throughput, Dell
recommends using all four 10 GbE ports in the group for stacking. You cannot use 10 GbE ports in a
stack group which are enabled for stacking as data ports.
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.
Stacking
913