Stacking; Overview; Stacking Aggregators - Dell PowerEdge M IO Aggregator Command Reference Manual

Stacking

Overview

An Aggregator auto-configures to operate in standalone mode. To use an Aggregator in a stack, you must
manually configure it using the CLI to operate in stacking mode.
Stacking is supported only on the 40GbE ports on the base module. Stacking is limited to two Aggregators
in the same chassis in a single stack. Up to three stacks of Aggregators are supported in an M1000e
chassis. To configure a stack, you must use the CLI.
Stacking provides a single point of management for high availability and higher throughput.
This chapter contains the following sections:
•

Stacking Aggregators

• Stacking Port Numbers
• Configuring a Switch Stack
• Verifying a Stack Configuration
• Troubleshooting a Switch Stack
• Upgrading a Switch Stack
• Upgrading a Single Stack Unit
Stacking Aggregators
A stack of Aggregators operates as a virtual chassis with management units (primary and standby) and
member units. The Dell Force10 operating software (FTOS) elects a primary (master) and secondary
(standby) management unit. The forwarding database resides on the master switch; the standby unit
maintains a synchronized local copy. Each unit in the stack makes forwarding decisions based on their
local copy.
Figure 17-15 shows an example of how you can stack two Aggregators. The Aggregators are connected to
operate as a single stack in a ring topology using only the 40GbE ports on the base modules.
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