Stack Size; Stacking Topologies - Brocade Communications Systems ICX 6610 Installation Manual

Connecting devices in a mixed stack

Stack size

A mixed stack can contain one or two ICX 6610 devices. They form the backbone of the mixed stack. ICX 6450 devices are peripheral
units. There can be one to six ICX 6450 devices in a mixed stack.
Peripheral devices can form one or more substacks. A substack is a topology that is formed by ICX 6450 devices. If ICX 6450 devices
are separated by an ICX 6610 device, the ICX 6450 devices belong to different substacks.

Stacking topologies

Two basic ring topologies are supported in a mixed stack: single ring and dual ring.
In a linear stack topology, there is a connection between each switch that carries two-way communications across the stack. This
connection can use one port or two ports per trunk.
In ring stack topology, there is an extra connection between the logical first and last devices to form a "ring" or "closed-loop." The closed-
loop connection provides a redundant path for the stack link, so if one link fails, stack communications can be maintained.
For example, in a four-unit stack using a ring topology, unit 1 connects to unit 2, unit 2 to unit 3, unit 3 to unit 4, and unit 4 connects to
unit 1.
You can connect stacking units using one port per trunk or both ports in a trunk. For maximum bandwidth and link redundancy, use both
ports per trunk on all stack units.
Topology 1: Single ring
In the following figure, two ICX 6610 devices form the backbone, and there are three ICX 6450 peripheral devices. There can be up to
six ICX 6450 peripheral devices.
This is a single ring configuration in which the second ICX 6610 device is connected to the first ICX 6450 device, and the first ICX 6610
device is connected to the last ICX 6450 device. There is one substack that contains three peripheral devices.
Brocade ICX 6610 Stackable Switch Hardware Installation Guide
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