Connectors and Cables

This appendix describes the Cisco proprietary cables and connectors for the GigaStack GBIC.

GigaStack GBIC Cabling

Figure B-1: GigaStack GBIC Connector

Caution Do not use standard IEEE 1394 cables with the GigaStack GBIC. You must use one of the Cisco proprietary cables (CAB-GS-50CM or CAB-GS-1M). If you use any other cable, you will not have connectivity.

Caution Do not use the GigaStack GBIC with standard IEEE 1394 equipment. You might damage the equipment or lose data.

GigaStack GBICs installed in a stack support a loop configuration only if every device in the stack is running IOS software Release 12.0(5)XU (April 2000) or higher.

For switches running IOS software previous to Release 12.0(5)XU, an illegal loop is created under the following conditions:

A GigaStack GBIC is connected to two other GBIC ports in the same stack.
A single GigaStack GBIC cable is inserted in port 1 and port 2 of the same GBIC.

Caution A loop causes excessive collision errors on the port and could cause the link to become unstable. This instability decreases performance on the links, and communication between the switches in the stack is adversely affected.