This article shows how to configure stacking on your switch. Stacking the switch together can reach redundancy in your network for your servers and other equipment. This also shows how to configure your backup and master switch as well as link aggregation for your switches. Including both the new GUI and old GUI.
1) Introduction to Switch Stacking
The example shows administrators how to configure a stacked switch to ensure high server availability. In this example, we stack Switch-1 and Switch-2 into one logical switch. By stacking the switch together, even if one switch goes offline, clients can still reach the server. This ensures high availability for servers. This example instructs administrators to disconnect all links before configuring the switches to avoid any network outages caused by broadcast storms.
Figure 12 Configure the stacked switch
2) Configure Stacking for Switch 1 & 2
Note: All network IP addresses and subnet masks are used as examples in this article. Please replace them with your actual network IP addresses and subnet masks. This example was tested using XGS3800-28 (Firmware Version: V4.80) and GS2220-50HP (Firmware Version: V4.80).
2.1 Set up Switch-1
Enter the web GUI and go to Menu > System > Stacking > Stacking Setup. Key in the system priority (The higher the number is, the higher priority it is to become a master) and click “Apply”. Enable the Active setting and click “Apply”.
Switch-1 will reboot.
2.2 Set up Switch-2
Enter the web GUI and go to Menu > System >Stacking > Stacking Setup. Key in the system priority (The higher the number is, the higher priority it is to become a master) and click “Apply”. Enable the Active setting and click “Apply”.
Switch-2 will reboot.
2.3 Connect Switch-1 and Switch-2 together on port 28 using a 10-
Gigabit transceiver.
2.4 Switch-1 and Switch-2 becomes a stacked switch.
The Stack ID LED on the front panel of the switches should display “1” and “2”.
Note: In this example, we set the priority of Switch-1 higher than Switch-2. Therefore, Switch-1 will become the Master.
Note: The last four ports are usually reserved for stacking channels when the switch is in stacking mode. These are ports 25, 26, 27, and 28 for the XS3800-28 switch. If you are using other stackable models, please refer to the user manual to confirm the ports used for stacking.
2.5 Remember to save the configuration.
3) Configure Link Aggregation on Stacked switch
3.1 Connect to the stacked switch
3.2 Configure Link Aggregation
Enter web GUI and go to Menu > Port > Link Aggregation > Link Aggregation Setting. Active T1 and T2. Select SLOT 1 and set the Group of port 1/1 and 1/2 as T1 and T2, respectively.
Click “Apply”.
Select SLOT 2 and set the Group of port 2/1 and 2/2 as T1 and T2 respectively. Click “Apply”.
3.3 Set the Control Protocol
Go to Menu > Port > Link Aggregation > Link Aggregation Control Protocol. Check the “Active” box, as well as for T1 and T2.
3.4 Configure Link Aggregation on Switch-3
1 Go to Menu > Port > Link Aggregation > Link Aggregation setting. (If you are using V4.70 firmware, please go to Menu > Advanced Application > Link Aggregation > Link Aggregation Setting). Check the Active box for T1 and select the port 1 and 2 as Group T1.
Click “Apply”.
3 Go to Menu > Port > Link Aggregation > Link Aggregation Control Protocol. (If you are using V4.70 firmware, please go to Menu > Advanced Application > Link Aggregation > Link Aggregation Setting >LACP)
Check the “Active” box, as well as for T1.
4) Test the Result
1 Configure Link Aggegation between the Server’s two NIC and connect these ports to port 1/2 and 2/2 of the stacked switch.
2 Use PC to ping the Server (192.168.1.40). After few times of ping, try to shut down Switch-1 (Master down). The ping will display “timed out” a few times and then ping will be successful again when Switch-2 (Backup) becomes the new Master.
5) What Could Go Wrong
1. The stacking ports are usually the last 2 ports of the switch. If you connect the two switches using a non-stacking port, you will find that the two switches will not form a stacking system.
2. Remember to save the configuration before doing the test. If you forget to save the configuration, after rebooting, all the configurations will be lost. Therefore, the Link Aggregation will disappear.
6) Configure Stacking using old Web GUI
Configure Switch-1 and Switch-2 for Stacking
- Set up Switch-1: Enter the web GUI and go to Menu > Basic Setting > Stacking > Configuration. Key in the system priority (The higher the number is, the higher priority it is to become a master) and click “Apply”. Check “Active” and click “Apply”. Switch-1 will reboot.
- Set up Switch-2: Enter the web GUI and go to Menu > Basic Setting > Stacking > Configuration. Key in the system priority (The higher the number is, the higher priority it is to become a master) and click “Apply”. Check “Active” and click “Apply”. Switch-2 will reboot.
- Connect Switch-1 and Switch-2 together on port 32 using a 10-Gigabit transceiver
- Switch-1 and Switch-2 becomes a stacked The Stack ID LED on the front panel of the switches should display “1” and “2”.
- Remember to save the configuration
Configure Link Aggregation on Stacked switch
- Connect to the stacked switch. Enter web GUI and go to Menu > Advanced Application > Link Aggregation > Link Aggregation Setting. Active T1 and Select SLOT 1 and set the Group of port 1/1 and 1/2 as T1 and T2, respectively. Click “Apply”. Select SLOT 2 and set the Group of port 2/1 and 2/2 as T1 and T2 respectively. Click “Apply”.
- Go to Menu > Advanced Application > Link Aggregation > Link Aggregation Setting >LACP. Check the “Active” box, as well as for T1 and T2.
Configure Link Aggregation on Switch-3
- Go to Menu > Advanced Application > Link Aggregation > Link Aggregation Setting. Check the Active box for T1 and select the port 1 and 2 as Group Click “Apply”.
- Go to Menu > Advanced Application > Link Aggregation > Link Aggregation Setting >LACP. Check the “Active” box and Click “Apply”.
Test the Result
- Configure Link Aggegation between the Server’s two NIC and connect these ports to port 1/2 and 2/2 of the stacked switch.
- Use PC to ping the Server (192.168.1.40). After few times of ping, try to shut down Switch-1 (Master down). The ping will display “timed out” a few times and then ping will be successful again when Switch-2 (Backup) becomes the new Master.
What Could Go Wrong
- The stacking ports are usually the last 2 ports of the If you connect the two switches using a non-stacking port, you will find that the two switches will not form a stacking system.
- Remember to save the configuration before doing the If you forget to save the configuration, after rebooting, all the configurations will be lost. Therefore, the Link Aggregation will disappear.
KB-00309