How to stack Dell Networking I/O Aggregators in standalone mode on FTOS version 9.4 or later.

Objectives

1. Stacking Prerequisites
2. Configuring a Stack
3. Cabling
4. Commands to Configure Stack Ports
5. Removing an Aggregator from a Stack and Restoring Quad Mode

Stacking Prerequisites

• ​All Aggregators that will be stacked must be powered up with their initial or startup configuration before attaching the cables.
• All stacked Aggregators must be running the same FTOS version.  
• Stacking is supported only with other Aggregators.  Up to six Aggregators can be configured in a stack.
• A maximum of two stack groups (40Gb ports) is supported on a stacked Aggregator.

NOTE:  If an Aggregator port belonged to all 4094 VLANs in standalone mode (default) all VLAN membership is removed and the port is assigned only to default VLAN 1. You must configure additional VLAN membership as necessary.

NOTE:  If you had manually configured an Aggregator port to belong to one or more VLANs (non-default) in standalone mode, the VLAN configuration is retained in stacking mode only on the primary switch.

 

Configuring a Stack

To configure and bring up a switch stack, follow these steps:

1. Connect the 40Gb ports on the base module of Aggregators using 40Gb direct attach or QSFP fiber cables.
2. Configure each Aggregator to operate in stacking mode.
3. Reload each Aggregator, one after the other in quick succession.

 

Cabling

Before configuring Aggregators in a stack, connect the 40Gb direct attach or QSFP cables and transceivers to 40Gb ports on the Aggregators.

 

 

Commands to Configure Stack Ports

 

Command	Purpose
FTOS# configure	Enter configuration mode.
FTOS(conf)# stack-unit 0 iom-mode stack	Set ports to stack mode.
FTOS(conf)# exit	Exit configuration mode.
FTOS# reload	Reboot/Restart the switch.

 

Removing an Aggregator from a Stack and Restoring Quad Mode

Disconnect the stacking cables from the unit.

 

Command	Purpose
FTOS# configure	Enter configuration mode.
FTOS(conf)# stack-unit 0 iom-mode standalone	Set ports back to ethernet/standalone mode.
FTOS(conf)# exit	Exit configuration mode.
FTOS# reload	Reboot/Restart the switch.

 

When the reload completes, the base-module ports come up in 4x10Gb (quad) mode.  The switch functions as a stand alone switch but retains the running and startup configuration that was last synchronized by the primary switch while it operated as a stack unit.