SecureStack C3/C2/B3/B2 Stacking Cable part numbers

FAQ_User — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 21:29:00 GMT

Article ID: 5668

Products
Matrix C2
SecureStack C3
SecureStack C2
C2G124-48P
C2G124-48
C2G124-24
C2K122-24
SecureStack B3
SecureStack B2
C2CAB-SHORT
C2CAB-LONG
C2CAB-5M

Commands
'show switch stack-ports'

Goals
Closing the loop on a stack

Cause
Up to eight Matrix/SecureStack C3/C2 switches may be combined into one manageable stack, formed by plugging specialized Stacking cables directly into the back of individual Matrix/SecureStack C3/C2 switches (any models, except no more than seven C2G124-48 / C2G124-48P / C2K122-24 may exist in a stack, due to bandwidth concerns), daisy-chaining them together and optionally "closing the loop" for redundancy.

Up to eight SecureStack B3/B2 switches may be combined into one manageable stack, formed by plugging specialized Stacking cables directly into the back of individual SecureStack B3/B2 switches (any models), daisy-chaining them together and optionally "closing the loop" for redundancy.

Within a stack, the individual switch units behave and perform as a single logical switch, having a single configuration which references ports as 'type.unit.port'.

C3/C2 switches cannot be combined with B3/B2 switches to form a single integrated stack, and neither can be stacked with SecureStack A2 switches (5660).

Solution
The SecureStack C3/C2 and SecureStack B3/B2 Stacking Cable part numbers are as follows:

C2CAB-SHORT; 30cm long, for stacking adjacent switches
C2CAB-LONG; 1m long, for "closing the loop" on stacks up to 8 high
C2CAB-5M; 5m long, for "closing the loop" on stacks with extra length requirements

Stacking cables are not included as part of a switch purchase, and must be ordered separately. There are generally no differences among the three cable part numbers, other than cable length - with one exception. As stated in the Hardware Installation Guides:
"Note: The C2G124-24 supports only the C2CAB-SHORT and C2CAB-LONG stacking cables."
This is due to the hardware design of the C2G124-24, making it incompatible with the C2CAB-5M, with no expectation of change. As long as these two component types are not directly attached, they are compatible within a stack. Directly combining the two component types will result in performance problems, and errors registered in the output of a 'show switch stack-ports' command.

Here are a few cabling scenario examples:

For a non-redundant two-stack in one cabinet, order one C2CAB-SHORT cable.
For a redundant eight-stack in one cabinet, order seven C2CAB-SHORT cables and one C2CAB-LONG cable.
For a redundant eight-stack in two side-by-side cabinets (four units per cabinet), order six C2CAB-SHORT cables and two C2CAB-LONG (or C2CAB-5M) cables.

Hot-swapping stacking cables will not damage the hardware.

See also: 5834.

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SecureStack C3/C2/B3/B2 Stacking Cable part numbers