Stacking Prerequisites; Cabling Stacked Switches; Cabling Restrictions; Cabling Redundancy - Dell PowerEdge M IO Aggregator Command Reference Manual

Stacking Prerequisites

Before you cable and configure a stack of Aggregators, review the following prerequisites:
• All Aggregators in the stack must be powered up with the initial or startup configuration before you
attach the cables.
• All stacked Aggregators must run the same FTOS version. The minimum FTOS version required is
8.3.17.0. To check the FTOS version that a switch is running, use the
download an FTOS version, go to http://support.dell.com.
• Stacking is supported only with other Aggregators. A maximum of two Aggregators is supported in a
single stack. You cannot stack the Aggregator with MXL 10/40GbE Switches or another type of
switch.
• A maximum of two stack groups (40GbE ports) is supported on a stacked Aggregator.
• Interconnect the stack units by following the instructions in

Cabling Stacked Switches

Before you configure Aggregators in a stack, connect the 40G direct attach or QSFP cables and
transceivers to connect 40GbE ports on two Aggregators in the same chassis.

Cabling Restrictions

The following restrictions apply when setting up a stack of Aggregators:
• Only daisy-chain or ring topologies are supported; star and full mesh topologies are not supported.
• Stacking is supported only on 40GbE links by connecting 40GbE ports on the base module. Stacking is
not supported on 10GbE ports or 4x10GbE ports.
• Use only QSFP transceivers and QSFP or direct attach cables (purchased separately) to connect
stacking ports.

Cabling Redundancy

Connect the units in a stack with two or more stacking cables to avoid a stacking port or cable failure.
Removing one of the stacked cables between two stacked units does not trigger a reset.
208 | Stacking
command. To
show version
Cabling Stacked Switches.