Chapter 2: Stacking Overview
52
Stacking Guidelines
A stack is a group 8100S Series switches linked together with the S1 and
S2 stacking ports to function as a unified Fast Ethernet switch. They
synchronize their actions so that network operations, such as spanning
tree protocols, virtual LANs, and static port trunks, span across all of the
Fast Ethernet ports.
A stack has two principal advantages over stand-alone units:
You can configure all of the switches in a stack from the same
management session, rather than individually from different
sessions, thereby simplifying network management.
You have more latitude when configuring some of the features. For
instance, to create a static port trunk on a stand-alone switch you
have to choose ports from the same switch. In contrast, a static
trunk on a stack can have ports from different switches in the same
stack.
Here are the general guidelines for 8100S Series stacks:
All 8100S Series switches support stacking.
A stack can have up to eight switches or 208 ports.
The switches of a stack may be the same model or different
models. For instance, a stack can have AT-8100S/24C, AT-8100S/
24, and AT-8100S/16F8-SC Switches.
Stacking is not supported on the 8100L Series switches.
An 8100S Series stack cannot contain other stacking devices,
such as the AT-9400Ts Series switches.
The 8100S Series switches do not need any additional modules or
software for stacking.
Each switch must be assigned a unique stack ID number, in the
range of 1 to 8, with the STACK command in the Global
Configuration mode. It must be assigned before the switch is
connected to the stack. The stack will not function properly if there
are two or more switches that have the same ID number.
The default value for the stack ID number is 0, which is reserved
for stand-alone switches.
A stack must have one master switch. The master switch is the
switch with the lowest stack ID number, usually ID number 1.
The master switch can be any switch in the stack.
If the master unit fails or is removed from the stack, the member
switch with the next lowest ID number takes over as the new
master switch.