Search Cisco Stackwise Lesson Contents 1.Configuration 2.Verification Cisco's access layer switches used tobe all separate physical switches where we use Ethernet cables for connectivity between the switches. Cisco Stackwise changed this, t allows us to turn multiple physical switches into a single logical switch, Switches that support Stackwise use a special stacking cable to connect the switches to ‘each other. ach switeh has twa stacking connectors that are used to "daisy-chain” (loop) the switches together. Each switch is connected to the one below it and the bottam switch willbe connected to the one on top, ‘The Stackwise cable slike an extension ofthe switching fabric ofthe switches, When an Ethernet frame has to be moved from one physical switch to another, the Stackwise “Ioop" is used. The advantage of using a cabled loop is that you can remove one switch from the stack, the loop willbe broken but the stack wll keep working, ‘One switch in the stack becornes the master that does all management tasks" for the stack. All other switches are members, If che master fails, anather member wll become the new master. To select a master, Stackwise uses an election process that checks for the following criteria (in order of importance} 1. User priority: we can configure a priaity to decide which switch becomes the 2. Default Configuration: A switch that already has a configuration will ake precedence over switches with ne configuration. 3. Hardware/software priority: The switch with the most extensive feature set has 2 higher priority than another switch (for example: IP Services vs IP base), 4, Uptime: The switch with the longest uptime. 5, MAC address: The switch with the lowest MAC address, I makes sense to choose the master ourselves so normally we use user priority to configure the master. (nce the stack has been created, the configuration ofthe switches isthe same asifit ‘were one single switch..they share the same management IP address, hostname, et, The Cisco Catalyst 4500 and 6500 also support something similar to B_stackwise, its called VSS tual Switching Systern) and | covered iin this Here's a picture ofthe stacking connectors this is the rear of a Cisco Catalyst 3750, site: Course Contents CeenPeNCOR350407 Uni: Sutehing Lnte2: Routing Unies Networ rehiecure Sine ana Lea Topology Unie 7 Netware assurance nies secur Unit 20-veuatzatonYou can see the two connectors on the left side..stack1 and Stack 2. Here's what the Stackwise cable looks Ike: Now you have an idea what Stackwise is about, les take a laok at the configuration. 1. Configuration | will use ewo Cisco Catalyst 3750 switches to configure Stackwise, Make sure they ae all powered off and then cable them lke this:First will tart che switch that lwant to become the Master, iluse the one on top for this. Once you start it with the cables connected, youll see some Stackwise information during boot SH: Detected stack cables at PORT poRT2 Waiting for Stack Master Election... Si: waiting for other switches in stack to boot. sentonsnuantauententanentsnenatnnrntentntentatents S¥: ALL possible switches in stack are booted up Election Complete Switch 1 booting as Master Waiting for Port download...Conplete ASTACKMGR-A-SWITCH_ADDED: Switch 1 has been ADDED to the stack STACKMGR-S-SHITCH_READY: Switch 1 is READY ‘XSTACKMGR=4-STACK_LINK_CHANGE: Stack Port 2 Switch 1 has changed to state DoH STACKMGR-4-STACK_LINK_CHANGE: Stack Port 2 Switch 1 has changed to state DOM STACKMGR-S-NASTER_READY: Master Switch 1 4s READY ‘Our switch detected the stacking cables and does an election to see who will Become the master. By default each switch will think that it’s switch number 1 and the master. change the user priority to make sure that this switch will always be selected as the master: ‘Ski(config)tswitch 1 priority 15 Changing the Switch Priority of Switch Number 1 to 15 Do you want to continue? confirm) New Priority has been set successfully ‘To make sure the new user priority willbe used, well save our configuration and reboot the switch: SkLcopy running-config startup-config Skitreload ‘Once SWI is back up and running, well power on the second switch. This is what you will see on the consolesee St: Detected stack cables at PORT2 PORTZ Waiting for Stack Master Election. Election complete Switch 2 booting as Menber, Switch 1 elected Master COMP: Compatibility check PASSED Waiting for feature sync... Waiting for Port download...complete Stack Master is ready You can see thatthe election was succesful, the second switch has becorne the member. This is looking good so let's verify our work. 2. Verification ‘There are a number of useful show commands to verify that Stackwise Is working ‘kutshow switch Seitch/Stack Mac Adéress : e011.2140.¢180 Hin Current Switch® Role Mac Address Priority Version state s1 Master ou.2i4e.cigo as Ready 2 Member 0016.¢762.6¢80 1 9 @ Ready ‘The show switch command tells us that we have a master and member, you can also see the user priority and the switch numbers. We can also verify ifboth stack connectors are used or not Shitshow suiteh stack-ports Switch # Port 1 Port 2 ok o 2 ok om Both switches have two stack ports that are up and running, We can also check the banwiath that Stackwise offers: Skutshow switch stack-ring speed Stack Ring Speed 26 Stack Ring Configuration: Full Stack Ring Protocol: Stackiise This tells us the ring speed is 32 Gbit and the configuration isFull” This means that we have a daisy-chained loop, ifyou only use a single Stackwise cable then this command will how only 16 Gbit for the ring speed and the ring configuration will be "Halt ‘Our two switches have been combined into a single logical switch, here's what the interface numbers now look tke:Skutshow ip interface brief | include Fast Fastetherneti/@/1 unassigned YES unset down oun Fastetherneti/@/2 unassigned YES unset down own Fastetherneti/0/3 unassigned YES unset down down Fastetherneti/a/¢ unassigned YES unset coun oun [output omitted] Fastethernet2/@/1 unassigned YES unset _ down oun Fastethernet2/@/2 unassigned YES unset down down Fastethernet2/@/3 unassigned YES unset down oun Fastethernet2/0/a unassigned YES unset down down [output omitted] ‘The interfaces onthe first switch use the FastEthernet1/O/X format and the interfaces on the second switch use the FastEthernet2/0/X format. All other devices that you connect to aur Stack will only see one device. Lets verity this by connecting another switch tothe topology: Stackwise Swi "a Ss os |will connect a switch to the Stack, one interface to the master switch and the other one to the member. Here's what CDP looks ike: Sk3Hshow cdp neighbors Capability Codes: & - Router, T - Trans Sridge, 8 - Source Route Bridge S > Switch, W = Host, I = 16M, © = Repeater, P - Phone Device 10 Local Tntrfce —Holdtne wD sk Fas e/21 a9 20/21 se Fas 0/20 150 10/26 Capability Platform Port ST Ws-ca750- Fas ST WS-C3750- Fas Itonly sees one device, ourlogical switch stack called SW.‘That's all have for now, | hope this has been helpful to understand Stackwise. you have any questions fel free toleave a comment. Cates conguaton earners ts) W Tags: Staciwise Forum Replies HiRene, "have couple of questions here Consider stack of2 switches. Be We need to enable spanning wee on the tack or connecting ther stehes on this tak, in a edundant manner? ‘iso How does the 105 uprrade happen on the member switches in stack? Wouls the upgrade on master ake care the member swiehes Coo? HiAshok, ‘You dont need STP forthe connections between the switches inthe stack, the sacks sean as one“Lgia” sch, you wantto upgrade the 1OSimage then you shoul copy the imaget dhe flash memory of al your shes, then eengure the master seh @ boot ‘ene image ana flo the sitehes. Cea has a od document th some examples p/n cco con/cen/usluppordorteyitenescatalyt37S0-ee-syches/E4898-upqrade-2750-stack hltfoioN ene Hello, Ihave a doubt fom cont point of view of stack 1. ets say we nave 2 3850 site that we ae going to connecn a stack- owe need to configure Both the switches wit denial config OR ust ‘config one siren ana othe wl utomaticaly take the cont? 2 other than the stack cable between these 2 ste - what ll we need to connect between them? ner-channel OR trunk? 5. whenever we cong anything on master sth, sare contig wil rapete on member s well? shanks iene Hello abhishek: For question When you stack sitehes, one of the sutehes is chosen asa Maser. (lek this rk to See how a Asters chosen and how you can fect whieh ane wi be chose, The process isthe same forthe 3750 and 3850 stches: he ilps ceo emclenlususporidoessuiehesleatabst 57SO-aeHeviens 71025515750/eate seh sis nan). The configuration of the Master inching ts VLAN configuration wil be repeated ont the other ‘switenes making the stack uncin a one steh. So, ary entgurtin that he Continue reading in our forum nse forum ntwarklesons cam/lterayatar peony ter n/Abe 49/40 ang a7 still doubl an whether or nat master eslcon wll occur when we add new swith mn exiting ack 2olakerikans, Ihink understand what you are saying. Yes, master re-election wil ocur(ypon powering on the tek i'you aed anew such while the stack was powered off However, there willbe no reelection you ade that srtch while the tacks up ond running “think ofthis a OSPF DRIBDR/OROTHER electon/e-alaction on mull acess network = Sontinue eading in or forum, % 20 more replies! Ask a question or join the discussion by visiting our Community Forum © 2013- 2021 NetworkLessons.com 37222 Disclaimer Privacy Policy Support About