Cascaded stack connections with a redundant link, Cascaded stack connections, Cascaded stack – Cisco GigaStack WS-X3500-XL User Manual

Page 44

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Chapter 2

Installation

Creating Connections

2-12

Catalyst GigaStack Gigabit Interface Converter Hardware Installation Guide

78-6460-04

Cascaded Stack Connections with a Redundant Link

You can form a redundant link by connecting the open ports on the top and bottom
GigaStack GBICs within the same stack, as shown in

Figure 2-8

.

Figure 2-8

Cascaded Stack Connections with a Redundant Link

The GigaStack GBIC software detects the loop configuration by the way the
cables are connected and the number of switches used in the stack. The software
uses one of the GigaStack GBIC links as the redundant link, which is disabled for
data transmission while all the other links in the stack are up. When any other link
in the stack is down, the redundant link is automatically enabled for data
transmission. To ensure continued connectivity, the software periodically checks
for changes in the stack and invokes the loop detection algorithm if a new link is
added to the cascaded stack or if a link is removed from the cascaded stack.

GigaStack GBICs installed in a stack support a loop configuration only if every
Catalyst 2900 XL and 3500 XL switch in the stack is running IOS software
Release 12.0(5)XU or later, Release 12.1(6)EA2 or later for Catalyst 2950
switches, and Release 12.1(4)EA1 or later for Catalyst 3550 switches.

For Catalyst 2900 XL and 3500 XL switches running IOS software earlier than
Release 12.0(5)XU, an illegal loop is created under these conditions:

A GigaStack GBIC is connected to two other GBIC ports in the same stack.

A single GigaStack GBIC cable is inserted in port 1 and port 2 of the same
GBIC.

31116

SPEED

SYSTEM

RPS

STATUS

MODE

UTIL

DUPLX

2

Catalyst 3500

XL

1

Port 1

Redundant
link

Port 2

SPEED

SYSTEM

RPS

STATUS

MODE

UTIL

DUPLX

Catalyst 3500

XL

7

8

3

5

6

4

2

1

SPEED

SYSTEM

RPS

STATUS

MODE

UTIL

DUPLX

9

10

11

12

2

Catalyst 3500

XL

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1

1

2

1

2

1

2

9

10

11

12

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

Catalyst 3508G XL

Catalyst 3512 XL

Catalyst 3524 XL

1X

2X

11X

12X

1X

2X

11X

12X

13X

14X

15X

16X

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