In native stacking, switches are connected using either designated Ethernet data ports or dedicated stacking connectors.
In alternate stacking, switches are connected using an alternate pair of Ethernet data ports that have been configured for stacking. These ports are located either on the switch itself or on option cards installed on either the front or the rear of the switch.
The 5120 Series supports native stacking beginning with Switch Engine 33.3. 5120-44X-4Y-2C switches support alternate stacking beginning with Switch Engine 33.4.
When planning and building your stack, be sure to follow port compatibility and cabling recommendations as described in this chapter.
