SecureStack C3/B3 f/w 1.02.05.0004 'show switch stack-ports' command shows Incrementing Errors

[FAQ_User]

Article ID: 12590

Products
SecureStack C3, firmware 1.02.01.0004 and higher
SecureStack C2, firmware 5.02.01.0006 and higher (mixed stack)
C3G124-48, C3G124-48P, C3G124-24, C3G124-24P, C3K122-24, C3K122-24P, C3K172-24
SecureStack B3, firmware 1.02.01.0004 and higher
SecureStack B2, firmware 4.02.01.0006 and higher (mixed stack)
B3G124-48, B3G124-48P, B3G124-24, B3G124-24P

Changes
Stacked two or more units together (5834) in a closed-loop stack, using the C2CAB-SHORT or C2CAB-LONG stacking cables (5668).
Issued the '

code:

show switch stack-ports

' command, to view stacking errors.

Symptoms
Stack port errors are seen to be incrementing at various rates, depending on the amount of traffic passing through the stack.

Cause
This is related to a change made in firmware x.02.01.000x to accommodate the C2CAB-5M stacking cable, as reported in release notes:

code:

10585

code:

Resolved an issue where stacking switches using a 5 meters cable (C2CAB-5M) would cause errors on stack ports.

Solution/Workaround
For the C3 and B3, upgrade to firmware 6.42.01.0046 or higher.
Release notes state, in the '

code:

What's New in 6.42

' section:

code:

Support for 5M cables added support for 5M stacking cables.

For the C2, upgrade to firmware 5.02.12.0006 or higher.
Release notes state, in the '

code:

Firmware Changes and Enhancements

' section:

code:

14747

code:

Support for the 5M stacking cables has been added in this release.

For the B2, upgrade to firmware 4.02.12.0006 or higher.
Release notes state, in the '

code:

Firmware Changes and Enhancements

' section:

code:

14747

code:

Support for the 5M stacking cables has been added in this release.

Here are the new commands to set for a 5M cable, clear from a 5M cable, or view the cable settings:set switch stack-ports length {down | up} {5m | standard}
clear switch stack-ports length
show switch stack-ports length
show switch stack-portsFor more about this, please refer to the "Configuration Guide FW Version 6.42.xx.xxxx", or later edition.

Workaround:

For the C3 and B3, upgrade to firmware 6.03.02.0006 or higher.
For C3/C2 mixed stacks, upgrade to firmware 5.02.08.0006 or higher.
For B3/B2 mixed stacks, upgrade to firmware 4.02.08.0006 or higher.
Release notes state, in the '

code:

Firmware Changes and Enhancements

' section:

code:

12833

code:

Resolved an issue whereby occasionally members of the stack would report stacking port errors. These messages did not appear to adversely affect the network.

code:

IMPORTANT: This solution is not compatible with 5M cables therefore do not install this maintenance release if you have 5M cable installations. If you are using a 5 meter cable and you install this firmware you will get errors reported on the stacking port.

In summary:

• Any given stack using one or more of the C2CAB-5M cables should run C3/B3 firmware 6.42.01.0046 or higher, or C3/B3 firmware within the range of 1.02.01.0004 to 6.03.01.0008, or C2/B2 firmware x.02.12.0006 or higher, or C2/B2 firmware within the range of x.02.01.0006 to x.02.07.0006.
• Any given stack running C3/B3 firmware lower than 6.42.01.0046 or running C2/B2 firmware lower than x.02.12.0006 should not mix use of the longer cables (C2CAB-5M) with the shorter cables (C2CAB-LONG, C2CAB-SHORT), as either the 5M or the LONG/SHORT will potentially elicit these errors.