Automatically Adding or Replacing Nodes in a Stack

You can easily automatically add or replace nodes in an existing stack.

Important

Important

You can only replace a switch with the same switch model, or with a model from the same switch series (family) with the same number of ports, but a different port type. For example, you can replace an ExtremeSwitching 5420F-24T-4XE with an ExtremeSwitching 5420-24P-4XE (24T → 24P).
Connecting a new node to a stack automatically triggers the following tasks in a stack:
To start automatic node replacement:
  1. Prepare the replacement node:
    1. If the replacement switch is not out of the shipping box, remove any configuration and restore the factory defaults by running the command unconfigure switch {all | erase [all | nvram]} with the all option.
    2. If the replacement switch is going to be the backup node, check for feature license mismatches between it and the master by running show licenses {[slot slot |all]} {detail} on both switches. Install licenses as needed to the replacement node by running the command or;

      install license file filename for universal platforms.

    3. Power down the replacement switch.
  2. Remove the current node from the stack.
  3. If you are changing to a different port type (for example, 24T → 24P):
    1. On the master, run the command configure slot slot module module_type , and change the module_type as applicable.
    2. Save the configuration (save configuration {primary | secondary | existing-config | new-config} ).
  4. Physically connect the new switch to the stack, and power it up. For information about cabling, see the hardware installation guide for your switch.
  5. Configure the switch port and speed for stack communication on the connected port of the new node for ExtremeSwitching Universal switches by running the command configure stacking-support stack-port [stack-ports | all] selection [native {V40 | V80 | V160 | V200 | V320 | V400 {alternative-configuration | help}} | alternate].

To manually add or replace a node, see Manually Adding Nodes to a Stack.