Adding a Node to a Stack
Adding a new switch, or node, to an active stack topology is similar to bringing up a new stack.

Note
If the node being added is actually a replacement node for one that was previously removed, see Replacing a Node with the Same Switch Type or Replacing a Node with a Different Switch Type.
Note
To use MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), the stack can contain only X440-G2, X450-G2, X460-G2, X670-G2, and X770 switches.Review the general and model-specific configuration guidelines for the node you are installing. These guidelines are described in ExtremeSwitching and Summit Switches: Hardware Installation Guide for Switches Using ExtremeXOS 21.1 or Later.
The examples in the following procedure assume that your current stack has six nodes and you are adding a new node at slot 7.
To add a node to a stack, follow these steps.
-
Before connecting the new node to the stack, prepare it as
follows:
- With the power off, install any required option cards as described in ExtremeSwitching and Summit Switches: Hardware Installation Guide for Switches Using ExtremeXOS 21.1 or Later.
- Power on the new node.
-
Use the show
switch command to verify that the new node's software is compatible with the
stack:
- The new node, must run the same ExtremeXOS version as the stack. Install the correct version if necessary.
- The ExtremeXOS software must be booted on the same image (primary or secondary) as the stack. If the new node is booted on a different image, change the image before you continue.
- Use the enable stacking command to enable stacking. Then decline the Easy Setup option.
-
Configure a unique slot number for the new node (see
Configuring Slot Numbers).
Select the lowest slot number that is not already in use in the stack. In the following example, the new node has MAC address 00:04:96:26:6c:92 and is assigned to slot 7.
Switch.3 # configure stacking node-address 00:04:96:26:6c:92 slot-number 7 This command will take effect at the next reboot of the specified node(s).
- Configure the node's master-capability to correspond to the role it should have in the stack (see Configuring Master-Capability).
-
If the new node will operate as a master-capable node,
use the show licenses command to verify
that the enabled license level is at the same level as the master-capable nodes in the
stack.
If necessary, configure the license-level restriction of the new node to be same as the other master-capable nodes in the stack (see Managing Licenses on a Stack).
- Configure the node role priority to correspond to the priority it should have in the stack (see Configuring the Master, Backup, and Standby Roles).
- Configure an alternate IP address and gateway (see Configuring an Alternate IP Address and Gateway).
- If the new node will use the SummitStack-V feature, configure the alternate stacking ports as described in Using Ethernet Ports for Stacking (SummitStack-V Feature).
-
Connect the stacking cables to the new node.
The connections should be made such that the new node appears in the natural position in the stack and in the slot. The following example adds a new node that becomes slot 7.
- Break the connection between slot 6 port 2 and slot 1 port 1.
- Connect slot 7 port 1 (the new node) to slot 6 port 2.
- Connect slot 7 port 2 (the new node) to slot 1 port 1.
For more information about cabling, , see ExtremeSwitching and Summit Switches: Hardware Installation Guide for Switches Using ExtremeXOS 21.1 or Later.
- Reboot the new node.
- At the stack master node, enter the command synchronize stacking node-address node-address.
- Reboot the new node by entering the command reboot node-address node-address].
-
Run the show
stacking and show slot commands,
as shown in the following example, to verify that the configuration is what you
want.
Slot-1 Stack.14 # show stacking Stack Topology is a Ring Active Topology is a Ring Node MAC Address Slot Stack State Role Flags ------------------ ---- ----------- ------- --- *00:04:96:26:6a:f1 1 Active Master CA- 00:04:96:26:6c:93 2 Active Standby CA- 00:04:96:26:5f:4f 3 Active Backup CA- 00:04:96:1f:a5:43 4 Active Standby CA- 00:04:96:28:01:8f 5 Active Standby CA- 00:04:96:20:b2:5c 6 Active Standby CA- 00:04:96:26:6c:92 7 Active Standby CA- * - Indicates this node Flags: (C) Candidate for this active topology, (A) Active Node (O) node may be in Other active topology # Slot-1 stack.15 # show slot Slots Type Configured State Ports -------------------------------------------------------------------- Slot-1 X670-G2-48x-4q X670-G2-48x-4q Operational 64 Slot-2 X770-32q X770-32q Operational 48 Slot-3 X670-G2-48x-4q X670-G2-48x-4q Operational 64 Slot-4 X670-G2-48x-4q X670-G2-48x-4q Operational 58 Slot-5 X670-G2-48x-4q X670-G2-48x-4q Operational 64 Slot-6 X770-32q X770-32q Operational 64 Slot-7 X770-32q X770-32q Operational 64 Slot-8 Empty 0