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• Stacking is not supported on 40 GbE ports operating in 4x10G (quad) mode. To convert a xed 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
Reconguring 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
sucient.
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 rst 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 congure 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.
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Stacking