Extreme Networks ExtremeSwitching X440-G2 Series Hardware Installation Manual page 143

either data communications or stacking. When configured to support stacking, they are called alternate
stacking ports to distinguish them from the native stacking ports that use custom cables.
A single stack can use both native stacking ports and alternate stacking ports. On one switch, for
example, you can use a native stacking port to connect to a switch in the same rack, and you can use an
alternate stacking port to connect to a switch on a different floor.
Note
When you connect distant nodes using alternate stacking ports, be sure to run the cables over
physically different pathways to reduce the likelihood of a cut affecting multiple links.
On each switch model, only specific data ports can be used as alternate stacking ports. The alternate
stacking ports must be 10-Gbps Ethernet ports, either on the front panel of the switch or on installed
port option cards or versatile interface modules at the rear of the switch. Switch models that do not
have native stacking ports can still use alternate stacking if they have 10-Gbps Ethernet ports.
Alternate stacking ports on different switches must be directly connected, with no intervening switch
connections. This is because alternate stacking ports use the proprietary ExtremeXOS protocol for
stacking, not the standard Ethernet protocol.
Table 58 lists the data ports that can be used as native and alternate stacking ports for each switch
model.
When the stacking-support option is enabled (with the enable stacking-support command),
data communication stops on the physical data ports that are designated for alternate stacking. Then,
when stacking is enabled (with the enable stacking command), those ports – listed in the
Alternate Stacking Ports column of
Table 58: Native and Alternate Stacking Ports
Switch Model
X440-G2-12t-10GE4
X440-G2-12p-10GE4
X440-G2-24t-10GE4
X440-G2-24p-10GE4
X440-G2-24x-10GE4
X440-G2-24t-10GE4-DC
X440-G2-48t-10GE4
X440-G2-48p-10GE4
X440-G2-48t-10GE4-DC
X450-G2-24t-GE4
X450-G2-48t-GE4
X450-G2-24p-GE4
X450-G2-48p-GE4
X450-G2-24t-10GE4
X450-G2-24p-10GE4
X450-G2-48t-10GE4
X450-G2-48p-10GE4
ExtremeSwitching and Summit Switches: Hardware Installation Guide
Table 58 – operate as stacking ports.
Type or location of Native
Stacking Ports
Fixed (front panel)
Fixed (rear panel)
Fixed
(rear panel, dedicated SFP+
port)
Fixed (rear panel)
Fixed (rear panel)
Fixed (rear panel)
Alternate Stacking Location of Alternate
Ports Stacking Ports
15,16 Front panel
27,28 Rear panel
49,50 Rear panel
Not applicable Not applicable
27,28 Front panel
51,52 Front panel
Building Stacks
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