Cisco 500 Series Quick Start Manual page 9

The stack ports must be either configured with the same port
W
ARNING
speed or have the same speed capability on the module/cable
plug in. If the port speed is configured as auto, then the module
plugged into these two ports will need to have the same speed
capability, otherwise the switch will not be able to form as a
stack with multiple units.
By default, the switch is in stack mode with a stack Unit ID automatically
assigned. A stack can have up to eight 500 series switches in it.
Switches in the same stack are connected together through their stack
ports. Depending on the type of stack ports and the desired speed, you
may need regular Cat5 or better Ethernet cables and/or Cisco approved
modules or cables for the 500 Series switches.
The default stack ports on a switch function as regular Ethernet ports only
by configuring them to do so, or if the switch is configured to operate in
standalone mode. You cannot mix the stack speeds between the switches
or ports.
If you manually assign a Unit ID to one unit, you should manually assign Unit
all
IDs to units. Using both system-assigned and manually-assigned IDs in
your network can impact system performance.
Changing the stack mode of a switch requires a reboot of the switch.
Stack Unit Modes
Devices can operate in one of the following Stack Unit modes:
• Standalone—A device in Standalone Stack Unit mode is not
connected to any other device and does not have a stack port.
• Native Stacking—A device in Native Stacking mode can be connected
to other devices of the same type through its stack ports to form a
stack. All units in a native stack must be of the same type (either all
Sx500s or all SG500Xs).
• Basic Hybrid—A device in Basic Hybrid mode can be connected to
other devices of the 500 series to form a stack. The only limitation (and
the reason that this mode is called Basic Hybrid as opposed to
Advanced Hybrid) is that there is no support for VRRP or RIP. The GUI
displays the pages of Sx500, even if the stack master is SG500X, since
the feature set is that of the Sx500.
In this mode, any type of device can take the master/backup roles.
Only the 5G stacking ports can be used as stack ports.
500 Series Stackable Managed Switches 9