Hardware and software requirements and configuration methods of setting up a stack of S series switches

Newly delivered S series fixed switches can automatically set up a stack in stack connection mode after stack cards are correctly installed and stack cables are correctly connected. If service ports are used to set up a stack, you need to configure the service ports as stack ports and correctly connect stack cables. Then the switches will automatically set up a stack. If the switches to set up a stack are not newly delivered, you need to check the stack configurations on the switches. If not, they may fail to set up a stack. In addition, stack establishment has requirements on hardware. After stack configurations on switches are completed, the stack may fail to be set up or some member switches may fail to join the stack. Possible causes are as follows: 1. Switches of different models cannot set up a stack. 2. A switch does not support stacking. 3. A switch or stack card has no electronic label or an incorrect electronic label. 4. Stack ports are incorrectly connected. 5. Some stack cards or stack cables are faulty. 6. The stack reserved VLAN is occupied. 7. MAC addresses of stack member switches conflict.

For details about stack cables supported by S series fixed switches, click Typical Configuration Examples and choose Typical Stack Configuration of Fixed Switches- Determining the Stack Connection Mode and Hardware and Software Requirements. This section describes whether each model and version of S series fixed switches supports stacking as well as stack modes, hardware and software requirements, typical networking, configuration steps, and also stack cables used to set up various stacks.

CE series switches cannot use stack cards to set up a stack.

Common Ethernet cables are used to set up a stack of CE series switches, and no dedicated stack cable is required. High-speed cables, active optical cables (AOCs), or optical modules and optical fibers are used for connecting optical ports. Category-6, Category-6A, or Category-7 Ethernet cables are used to connect electrical ports.