Specifications
Extreme Networks Technical Brief
© 2010 Extreme Networks, Inc. All rights reser ved. SummitStack Stacking Technology—Page 6
Extreme Networks Technical Brief
You can physically connect the stack to your networks
before the nodes are configured. However, the default
configuration on a non-stacking mode switch assumes a
default untagged VLAN that contains all switch ports. When
first powered on, the switch acts as a Layer 2 switch,
possibly resulting in network loops.
• Make sure all nodes support the SummitStack feature
and are running the same ExtremeXOS software
version. To view the ExtremeXOS software version on a
node, restart the node and run the command show
version {detail | process <name> |
images {partition <partition>} {slot
<slotid>} }. If any of the nodes do not have the
right version, install the correct version on that switch.
Extreme Networks recommends that you use the same
image partition on all nodes. Once stacking is enabled,
an image upgrade from the stack is possible only if the
same image is selected on all nodes.
• If you intend to deploy new units that might be part of
a stack in the future, you may want to turn on stacking
mode during initial deployment to avoid a future
restart. The disadvantages of stacking mode are the
loss of the two QoS profiles QP6 and QP7 and the
reservation of some of the packet buffer space for
stacking control traffic.
• You can configure the stack by logging into the master
or any of the other nodes.
• If the stackable switches have different purchased
license levels, you may need to configure license level
restrictions on some nodes before those nodes can join
the stack.
• Most stacking specific configurations are effective only
after a restart (see Table 2). However, most non-stacking
configuration commands take effect immediately and
require no restart.
• A basic stack configuration can be achieved by using
the procedure described in the “About Easy Setup”
section below.
About Easy Setup
Using Easy Setup, you can configure a stack without
entering many of the stacking CLI commands. Easy Setup
provides you an easy way to configure the required stacking
parameters for all nodes.
The Easy Setup procedure creates a stack with a master
and a backup. The remaining nodes are configured with the
master capability disabled. Extreme Networks recommends
that you configure the stacking license restriction, if needed,
before invoking Easy Setup. Otherwise, an additional stack
reboot might be needed.
The configuration procedure described in the next section
starts Easy Setup. You can also start Easy Setup by entering
the congure stacking easy-setup command.
Easy Setup performs the functions of the following five
commands required to configure and activate the stack:
• enable stacking
• configure stacking slot-number automatic
• configure stacking mac-address
• configure stacking redundancy
• minimal reboot stack-topology
In a daisy-chain topology (which is not recommended),
Easy Setup instead designates the node at the beginning of
the chain as the master, and executes the command
configure stacking redundancy none.
Summary
SummitStack is an Extreme Networks solution for fixed
configuration switches to provide simplified yet agile
operations for scalable converged networks. The mechanism
supports many network topology designs and is Ethernet
based requiring no new hardware or interfaces.
Stacking offers customers a flexible way to increase switch
density and capacity, provides port configuration choices
and controls upfront capital requirements. SummitStack
permits mixing and matching Summit switches in a multi-
platform stack to provide the port configuration you need,
from Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet to 10
Gigabit Ethernet, with copper, PoE, and fiber interfaces.
1, 2, 3
For additional information on SummitStack and ExtremeXOS
operating system licensing terms, please refer to the
ExtremeXOS Concepts Guide located at
http://www.extremenetworks.com/services/
software-userguide.aspx.
1
SummitStack (40 Gbps) supports multi-platform stacking among Summit X250e, X450a, X450e, X460, X480 and X650 switches running the same
version of ExtremeXOS.
2
SummitStack-V80 (80 Gbps) supports Summit X460 switches with planned multi-platform stacking support for Summit X480 and Summit X650
switches running the same version of ExtremeXOS.
3
SummitStack-V (10 Gbps) direct connections are compatible among Summit X450e, X450a, X460, X480 and X650 switches running the same
version of ExtremeXOS (version 12.5 minimum).