cc/td/doc/product/lan
hometocprevnextglossaryfeedbacksearchhelp
PDF

Table of Contents

Setting Up StackPack

Setting Up StackPack

Catalyst  2900 series  XL switches can be linked using the provided Fast EtherChannel cables and the Fast EtherChannel configuration feature. The cables provide the physical link, and the Fast EtherChannel feature provides the logical link. Figure 1 shows four Catalyst  2924  XL switches connected to a Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.


Figure 1: 96/104-Port Configuration

Features

The Cisco  2900 XL Expansion Kit provides the following features:

Management

You can use the Cisco Visual Switch Manager software to manage your Catalyst  2900 series  XL switches from any point on your network. This manager software is a secure, easy-to-use, browser-based tool for configuring and managing your switches.

Flexibility

Using Cisco's Fast EtherChannel technology, you can scale your network from 3  units (48/56-port stack) to 5  units (96/104-port stack).

Reliability

The Fast EtherChannel feature provides redundant, cumulative, Fast EtherChannel links between switches. If a single port fails, the other ports in the Fast EtherChannel link continue to operate.

Performance

The 2900 XL StackPack provides up to 1.6  Gbps of aggregate bandwidth between switches.

Scalability

As your network grows, you can add modules to the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch or add another Catalyst  2924  XL switch. Future Gigabit Ethernet modules will provide high-bandwidth uplinks from your switches to the core of your network.

Cabling the Stacks

This section provides the basic procedures for cabling the connections between a Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch and the Catalyst  2924  XL switches.

Cabling a 48/56-Port Stack

The following procedure provides instructions for cabling one Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch and two Catalyst  2924  XL switches. Figure 2 illustrates the connections.


Figure 2: Cabling a 48/56-Port Stack

Step 1 Connect the Fast EtherChannel cable provided to port  1 and port  2 of the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Step 2 Connect the other end of the cable to port  1 and port  2 of the first Catalyst  2924  XL switch.

Step 3 Connect a second Fast EtherChannel cable to port  3 and port  4 of the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Step 4 Connect the other end of the cable to port  3 and port  4 of the first Catalyst  2924  XL switch.

Step 5 Connect a third Fast EtherChannel cable to port  5 and port  6 of the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Step 6 Connect the other end of the cable to port  1 and port  2 of the second Catalyst  2924  XL switch.

Step 7 Connect a fourth Fast EtherChannel cable to port  7 and port  8 of the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Step 8 Connect the other end of the cable to port  3 and port  4 of the second Catalyst  2924  XL switch.

You are ready to configure the stack.

Cabling a 96/104-Port

The following procedure provides instructions for cabling one Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch and four Catalyst  2924  XL switches. Figure 3 illustrates the connections.


Figure 3: Cabling a 96/104-Port Stack

Step 1 Connect the Fast EtherChannel cable provided to port  1 and port  2 of the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Step 2 Connect the other end of the cable to port  1 and port  2 of the first Catalyst  2924  XL switch.

Step 3 Connect a second Fast EtherChannel cable to port  3 and port  4 of the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Step 4 Connect the other end of the cable to port  1 and port  2 of the second Catalyst  2924  XL switch.

Step 5 Connect a third Fast EtherChannel cable to port  5 and port  6 of the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Step 6 Connect the other end of the cable to port  1 and port  2 of the third Catalyst  2924  XL switch.

Step 7 Connect a fourth Fast EtherChannel cable to port  7 and port  8 of the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Step 8 Connect the other end of the cable to port  1 and port  2 of the fourth Catalyst  2924  XL switch.

You are ready to configure the stack.

Configuring the Stack

The stack is configured using the Port Group (EtherChannel) page in the Catalyst  2900 series  XL switch Manager software and online help for Manager software.

Configuring a 48/56-Port Stack

The steps for configuring an EtherChannel port group for a 48/56-port stack are as follows:

Step 1 Display the Port Group  (EtherChannel) page for the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Step 2 Select the ports for Group  1. For example, click source as the forwarding method, select Port  1 (FastEthernet0/1), and click Add. Repeat the process to add ports  2 through  4 (FastEthernet  0/2, 0/3,  0/4).

Step 3 Display the Port Group  (EtherChannel) page for the first Catalyst  2924  XL switch.

Step 4 Select the ports for Group  1. For example, click source as the forwarding method, select Port  1 (FastEthernet0/1), and click Add. Repeat the process to add ports  2 through  4 (FastEthernet  0/2, 0/3,  0/4).

Step 5 Repeat Step 1 through Step 4 for the second Catalyst  2924  XL switch, using ports  5 through 8 and Group  2 on the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Detailed instructions are available in the Port Group  (EtherChannel) section of the Catalyst 2900 Series XL Installation and Configuration Guide and the online help for manager software.

Configuring a 96/104-Port

The steps for configuring an EtherChannel port group for a 96/104-port stack are as follows:

Step 1 Display the Port Group  (EtherChannel) page for the Catalyst  2916M  XL or Catalyst  2924M  XL switch.

Step 2 Select the ports for Group  1. For example, click source as the forwarding method, select Port  1 (FastEthernet0/1), and click Add. Repeat the process to add Port  2 (FastEthernet  0/2).

Step 3 Display the Port Group  (EtherChannel) page for the first Catalyst  2924  XL switch.

Step 4 Select the ports for Group  1. For example, click source as the forwarding method, select Port  1 (FastEthernet0/1), and click Add. Repeat the process to add Port  2 (FastEthernet  0/2).

Step 5 Repeat Step 1 through Step 4 for the second, third, and fourth Catalyst  2924  XL switches.

Detailed instructions are available in the Port Group  (EtherChannel) section of the Catalyst 2900 Series XL Installation and Configuration Guide and the online help for manager software.


hometocprevnextglossaryfeedbacksearchhelp

Copyright 1989-1999©Cisco Systems Inc.