In native stacking mode, switches are connected using either designated Ethernet data ports or dedicated stacking connectors.
In alternate stacking mode, switches are connected using 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. Not all switches support alternate stacking mod.
The 5420 Series supports native stacking in Native-V40 stacking mode. The switch also supports Native-V80 stacking mode. The 5420 Series does not support alternate stacking. See Combine Switches from Different Series for more information about cross-stacking 5420 Series switches with other switches.
When planning and building your stack, be sure to follow port compatibility and cabling recommendations as described in this chapter.
