Stack Arrangement; Understanding Stack Types - Extreme Networks ExtremeSwitching 3600 Series Installation Manual

Stack Arrangement

You connect the switches in the stack by the stack connectors. You designate one unit as the base
unit by setting a switch on the back panel.
The stack connector is a component of the back panel and consists of the Base Unit Select switch,
Cascade Down connector, and Cascade Up connector.
The Cascade Down connector connects this switch to the next unit in the stack through a cascade
cable. A connection from this connector must be attached to the Cascade Up connector of the next
switch in the stack. A return cable from another Cascade Down connector to this unit's Cascade Up
connector completes the stack connection.
Important:
To create a stack connection, order the appropriate cascade cables to ensure fail-safe stacking.
Order stacking cables of the correct length for a stack of three or more units. You require one
long cable (stack return cable) to complete the loop in a stack from the bottom unit to the top
unit.
The Cascade Up connector provides an attachment point for accepting a cascade cable
connection from another unit in the stack. A return cable from the Cascade Down connector to
the Cascade Up onnector on the adjacent unit completes the stack connection.
Figure 2: ERS 3600 stack connectors

Understanding Stack Types

Due to stack parameters being associated with the base unit, the physical stack order depends on
the base unit position and whether the stack is configured cascade up (stack up) or cascade down
(stack down). This designation depends on the stack cabling arrangement.
The Unit Select switch is used to designate a switch in the stack as a base or non-base unit. Sliding
the switch down designates that switch as the base unit. Only one switch in a stack can have the
Unit Select switch in the base unit position. All other switches in the stack must have the Unit Select
switch in the up position which designates them as non-base units.
During the initial installation of the stack, the software automatically determines the physical order of
all units in the stack according to the position of the base unit within the stack. Thereafter, the
February 2020 Installing Ethernet Routing Switch 3600 Series
Standalone Arrangement
27