X460-G2 Stacking

The stacking-support option is enabled by default for X460-G2 switches. For more information, see Enabling and Disabling the Stacking-Support Option.

The stacking port selection option, which allows you to choose between native and alternate ports, is enabled by default for X460-G2 switches. For more information, see Selecting Native and Alternate Stacking Ports.

Table 1. Stacking Methods for X460-G2 Switches
Stacking Method	Speed per Link (HDX)	Cable Type and Lengths
SummitStack (rear panel, with VIM) See Native Stacking for X460-G2 Switches.	10 Gbps	0.5m, 1.5m, 3.0m, 5.0m
SummitStack-V160 (rear panel, with VIM) See Native Stacking for X460-G2 Switches.	40 Gbps	QSFP+
SummitStack-V (front panel 10G models) See Alternate Stacking for X460-G2 Switches.	10 Gbps	0.5m–40km SFP+

Native Stacking for X460-G2 Switches

X460-G2 1-gigabit switch models (GE4) support native stacking through an attached VIM-2ss or VIM-2q module.

The VIM-2ss module permits stacking using the standard SummitStack cables. With this module it is possible to stack with X460 and X480 switches.

1 = LEDs

2= Stacking ports

The VIM-2q module connects to QSFP+ cables to form stacks using the SummitStack-V160 protocol. This module is not compatible with the SummitStack-V80 module that is used on the X460 and X480 switches.

1 = LEDs

2= QSFP+ ports

Note

VIMs are not hot swappable. You must power down the switch before installing any VIMs.

Alternate Stacking for X460-G2 Switches

X460-G2 10-gigabit switch models (10GE4) support alternate stacking (SummitStack-V feature) through the 10G SFP+ ports located on the front panel. See Summit X460-G2 (10G Models) Stack Configuration Guidelines for additional considerations.

X460-G2 1-gigabit switch models (GE4) support alternate stacking through an attached VIM-2x module. See Summit X460-G2 (1G Models Using VIM Ports) Stack Configuration Guidelines for additional considerations.

Note

40G ports on the VIM-2q cannot be partitioned into four 10G ports.

Alternate Stacking Ports for X460-G2 Switches summarizes alternate stacking support for X460-G2 switches.

When the stacking-support option is enabled (with the enable stacking-support command), data communication stops on the physical data ports that are designated for alternate stacking. Then, when stacking is enabled (with the enable stacking command), those ports – listed in the Alternate Stacking Ports column of Alternate Stacking Ports for X460-G2 Switches – operate using the stacking protocol for the logical stacking ports.

Table 2. Alternate Stacking Ports for X460-G2 Switches
Switch Model	Type or location of Native Stacking Ports	Alternate Stacking Ports	Location of Alternate Stacking Ports
X460-G2-24t-GE4 X460-G2-24p-GE4	VIM-2ss or VIM-2q	33,34	VIM-2t or VIM-2x
X460-G2-48t-GE4 X460-G2-48p-GE4	VIM-2ss or VIM-2q	53,54	VIM-2t or VIM-2x
X460-G2-24t-10GE4 X460-G2-24x-10GE4 X460-G2-24p-10GE4	VIM-2ss or VIM-2q	31,32	Front panel
X460-G2-48t-10GE4 X460-G2-48x-10GE4 X460-G2-48p-10GE4	VIM-2ss or VIM-2q	51,52	Front panel

Note

On X460-G2 24-port 10GE4 switches, ports 31 and 32 are not available as data ports when the alternate stacking ports are used.
On X460-G2 48-port 10GE4 switches, ports 51 and 52 are not available as data ports when the alternate stacking ports are used.

Additional Stacking Considerations for X460-G2 Switches

When planning to use X460-G2 switches in a stack, note the following additional considerations:

When using the VIM-2ss module, you can enable stacking without enabling stacking-support because the ports are native to the switch. All other VIMs require stacking-support to be enabled.
The X460-G2 switch has “protocol enhanced” set by default. (Older switches, such as the X460, have “protocol standard” set by default. When you add a switch to a stack, make sure the new switch has "protocol enhanced" set so that it can communicate with the X460-G2 switch and the other switches in the stack.)
Because the X460-G2 switch must run with ExtremeXOS version 15.7 or later, it cannot be stacked with older switch series like the X250 and X450e. Those switch series are not compatible with the ExtremeXOS levels that are required for X460-G2 switches.
See also Summit X460-G2 (10G Models) Stack Configuration Guidelines.
See also Summit X460-G2 (1G Models Using VIM Ports) Stack Configuration Guidelines.