NETGEAR M4100, M7100 manual Switch Firmware, Install a Switch Stack

ProSafe M4100 and M7100 Managed Switches

Install a Switch Stack

Note: Many models of switches have a Hardware Installation Guide that includes additional information about rack mounting and switch stack cabling.

1.Install the switches in a rack.

2.Install all stacking cables, including the redundant stack link. It is highly recommended that a redundant link be installed.

3.Identify the switch to be the master. Power up this switch first.

4.Monitor the console port. Allow this switch to come up to the login prompt. If the switch has the default configuration, it should come up as unit #1, and automatically become a master switch. If not, renumber the units.

5.If you want to configure switches offline, preconfigure the other switches to be added to the stack. See Preconfigure a Switch on page 364.

6.Power on a second switch, making sure it is adjacent (the next physical switch in the stack) to the switch already powered up. This ensures that the second switch comes up as a member of the stack, and not a master of a separate stack.

7.Monitor the master switch to see that the second switch joins the stack. Use the show switch command to determine when the switch joins the stack. It will be assigned a unit number (unit #2, if it has the default configuration).

8.Renumber this stack member, if you want. See Renumber Stack Members on page 365 for recommendations for renumbering stack members.

Repeat steps 6 through 8 to add members to the stack. Always power on a switch adjacent to the switches already in the stack.

Switch Firmware

All stack members must run the same firmware version. This helps ensure full compatibility in the stack protocol version among the stack members.

If a stack member is running a different firmware version than the stack master, that stack member is not allowed to join the stack. Use the show switch command to list the stack members and firmware versions. See the following section Code Mismatch .

You can upgrade a switch that has an incompatible firmware image by using the command

copy xmodem ymodem zmodem tftp://ip/filepath/filename. This command

copies the firmware image from a stack member to the one with incompatible firmware. That switch automatically reloads and joins the stack as a fully functioning member.

Chapter 19. Switch Stacks 353