Dell PowerConnect B-FCX624 Hardware Installation Manual page 32

2
Preparing the installation site
In a linear stack topology there is a single stack cable connection between each switch that carries
two-way communications across the stack. In ring stack topology, an extra cable is connected
between the top and bottom switches forming a "ring" or "closed-loop." The closed-loop cable
provides a redundant path for the stack link, so if one link fails, stack communications can be
maintained.
You can form a stack containing up to eight PowerConnect B-FCX units. To connect switches in a
stack, perform the following steps:
1. Plug one end of a stack cable into one of the CX4 stacking ports of the top unit.
2. Plug the other end of the stack cable into one of the stacking ports of the next unit.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each unit in the stack. Form a simple chain starting with a stacking
4. (Optional) To form a ring stack topology, plug one end of a stack cable into the remaining
FIGURE 22
22
Figure 5 illustrates a ring-topology stacking configuration.
port on the top unit and ending at a stacking port on the bottom unit (stacking up to eight
units).
stacking port on the bottom unit and the other end into the remaining stacking port on the top
unit.
Connecting switches in a linear (top) and ring (bottom) topology stack
PowerConnect B-FCX Switch Hardware Installation Guide
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