Stacking Cables; Stack Size; Stacking Topologies - Brocade Communications Systems ICX 6430 Hardware Installation Manual

All configuration methods
Before configuring the mixed stack, physically connect the devices using stacking cables.
Secure Setup utility
To use the 10 Gbps SFP+ ports on the front panel of ICX 6610 devices to connect ICX 6610 devices to ICX 6450 devices in a mixed
stack, configure the SFP+ ports on the ICX 6610 devices to 10 Gbps using the speed command.
Automatic and manual configuration methods
To connect an ICX 6610 device in the backbone to an ICX 6450 device (peripheral unit), configure the peri-port command or peri-
trunk command on the ICX 6610 device.
For information about configuring a stack, refer to the Brocade FastIron Stacking Configuration Guide.

Stacking cables

TABLE 10 Cables to connect devices in a mixed stack
To connect this device
ICX 6610
ICX 6450
ICX 6610

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 forming 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.
Brocade ICX 6430 and ICX 6450 Stackable Switches Hardware Installation Guide
Part Number: 53-1003617-03
To this device
ICX 6610
ICX 6450
ICX 6450
Connecting devices in a mixed stack
Use this cable
1 meter passive copper QSFP stacking cable
100 meter QSFP fiber-optic cable
SFP+ fiber-optic cable
10 Gbps copper stacking cable
SFP+ fiber-optic cable
10 Gbps copper stacking cable
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