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Configuring a Stack

Before configuring a new stack, do the following:
  • Ensure that every switch, or node, in the stack is running on the same partition (primary or secondary). To find this information for any node, issue the command show switch and look for the Image Booted field in the output.
  • Ensure that every switch in the stack is running the same version and patch level of ExtremeXOS. To find this information for any node, issue the command show switch and look for the Primary Ver or Secondary Ver field in the output.
  • If necessary, enable switch license levels or configure license level restrictions for the nodes in the stack.
  • We recommend that you save the configuration for each switch that will participate in the stack, so that you can reinstate the configuration after the switch is no longer needed in the stack.
Note

Note

New switches are primary-capable by default.

Because stacks can consist of switches of different series and different models, ExtremeXOS does not restrict configuration settings based on the capabilities of any particular node in the stack. Therefore, you are responsible for ensuring that your configuration settings are appropriate for all switches in the stack.

The following switch families come from the factory with stacking-support enabled with stack ports set to a default configuration. The following table describes the default configuration for each switch:

Table 1. Universal Switch Default Stack Port Configuration
Switch Stack port default configuration
ExtremeSwitching 5320 SummitStack V400
ExtremeSwitching 5420 SummitStack V40
ExtremeSwitching 5520 SummitStack V160
ExtremeSwitching 5720 SummitStack V40
Important

Important

ExtremeSwitching 5720 and ExtremeSwitching 5520 switches contain different types of EXOS images. The ExtremeSwitching 5720 requires an onie_x86_64 image type, and the ExtremeSwitching 5520 requires a summit_arm image type. Before building a mixed stack of these two switch families, all switches must have the same release level image loaded onto all nodes.

Once a mixed stack of ExtremeSwitching 5720 and ExtremeSwitching 5520 switch families has been built, a software upgrade is required. Download and install the onie-summitarm-bundle.lst image, which combines the onie_x86_64 image and the summit_arm image into one bundle.

Alternatively, you can use the following two step upgrade process:

  1. Download the onie_x86_64 image (and optionally install) onto the Primary node in the stack.
  2. Download the summit_arm image (and optionally install) onto the Primary node in the stack.
Follow these steps to configure a new stack. Some of the steps include references where you can find additional information.
  1. Physically connect the switches (stack nodes) using their stacking ports or alternate stacking ports.

    Instructions for physically setting up the stack are provided in the hardware installation guide for your switch.

  2. Power on the switches.
  3. On each switch, issue the command enable stacking-support.
    This command configures the switch so that it is capable of being added to a stack. It is not the same as enable stacking, which you will use later to build the stack.
  4. Ensure that all of the cabled stacking ports are enabled for stacking:
    1. On each node, issue the command show ports x,y, where x and y are the port numbers.
      In the output, port state = E means a port is enabled.
    2. For any ports that are not enabled, issue the command enable ports x,y, where x and y are the port numbers.
    3. If you enabled ports on any switches, reboot those switches.
      Save the configuration files.
  5. Configure all switches in the stack that wil