SMC Networks SMC8848M Connecting Switches in a Stack

C ONNECTING S WITCHES IN A S TACK
3-9
3. Slide the transceiver into the slot until it clicks into place.
Note: SFP and XFP transceivers are hot-swappable. The switch does not
need to be powered off before installing or removing a transceiver.
However, always first disconnect the network cable before
removing a transceiver.
Note: SFP and XFP transceivers are not provided in the switch package.
Connecting Switches in a Stack
Figure 3-7 shows how the stack cables are connected between switches in a
stack. Each stacking connection is a 48 Gbps full-duplex high-speed serial
link using proprietary stacking cables. The switch supports a line- and
ring-topology stacking configuration, or can be used stand alone. To
ensure minimal disruption in case a unit or stacking cable fails, we
recommend always use a ring-topology.
In line-topology stacking there is a single stack cable connection between
each switch that carries two-way communications across the stack. In
ring-topology stacking, an extra cable is connected between the top and
bottom switches forming a “ring” or “closed-loop.” The closed-loop cable
provides a redundant path for the stack link, so if one link fails, stack
communications can still be maintained. Figure 3-7 illustrates a
ring-topology stacking configuration.
To connect up to eight switches in a stack, perform the following steps:
1. Plug one end of the stack cable (ordered separately) in the Down
(right) port of the top unit.
2. Plug the other end of the stack cable into the Up (left) port of the next
unit.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each unit in the stack. Form a simple chain
starting at the Down port on the top unit and ending at the Up port
on the bottom unit (stacking up to 8 units).