Cisco EtherSwitch Service Modules Feature Guide
Information About the Cisco EtherSwitch Service Modules
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Cisco IOS Release 12.2(25)SEC
The interface-specific configuration of each stack member is associated with the stack member number.
As mentioned in the “Stack Member Numbers” section on page15, stack members retain their numbers
unless they are manually changed or they are already used by another member in the same switch stack.
•If an interface-specific configuration does not exist for that member number, the stack member uses
its default interface-specific configuration.
•If an interface-specific configuration exists for that member number, the stack member uses the
interface-specific configuration associated with that member number.
If a stack member fails and you replace it with an identical model, the replacement Cisco EtherSwitch
service module or switch automatically uses the same interface-specific configuration as the failed
Cisco EtherSwitch service module. Hence, you do not need to reconfigure the interface settings. The
replacement Cisco EtherSwitch service module or switch must have the same stack member number as
the failed Cisco EtherSwitch service module.
You back up and restore the stack configuration in the same way as you would for a standalone
Cisco EtherSwitch service module or switch configuration.
Switch Stack Management Connectivity
You manage the switch stack and the stack member interfaces through the stack master. You can use
Network Assistant, the CLI, and SNMP and CiscoWorks network management applications. You cannot
manage stack members on an individual Cisco EtherSwitch service module or switch basis.
Management Connectivity to the Switch Stack Through an IP Address
The switch stack is managed through a single IP address. The IP address is a system-level setting and is
not specific to the stack master or to any other stack member. You can still manage the stack through the
same IP address even if you remove the stack master or any other stack member from the stack, provided
there is IP connectivity.
Note Stack members retain their IP addresses when you remove them from a switch stack. To avoid a conflict
by having two devices with the same IP address in your network, change the IP address or addresses of
the Cisco EtherSwitch service module or switch that you removed from the switch stack.
For related information about switch stack configurations, see the “Switch Stack Configuration Files”
section on page 18.
Management Connectivity to the Switch Stack Through an SSH Session
SSH connectivity to the switch stack can be lost if a stack master running the cryptographic version of
the IP base image or IP services image fails and is replaced by a Cisco EtherSwitch service module or
switch that is running a noncryptographic version of the image. We recommend that a Cisco EtherSwitch
service module or switch running the cryptographic version of the IP base image or IP services image
be the stack master. Encryption features are unavailable if the stack master is running the
noncryptographic version of the IP base image or IP services image.
Management Connectivity to the Switch Stack Through Console Ports
You can connect to the stack master through the console port of one or more stack members.