Recommendations for Configuring Stacks

When deploying a new stack, follow these recommendations for configuring the software:

• Make sure all switches in the stack are running the same software version. Use the same image partition on all switches. After stacking is enabled, images can be upgraded from the stack only if the same image is selected on all switches.
• You can physically connect the stack to your networks before you configure the stack. However, the default configuration on a switch in non-stacking mode assumes a default untagged VLAN that contains all switch ports. When first powered on, the switch acts as a Layer 2 switch, possibly resulting in network loops.
• You can configure and manage the stack only through the stack manager.

Follow the recommendations in Recommendations for Placing Switches for Stacked Operation for physically situating your equipment.