General rules

  • Stacking is an optional feature (enabled in the default configuration) and can easily be disabled. Stacking has no effect on the normal operation of the switch in your network.

  • A stack requires one Commander switch. (Only one Commander allowed per stack.)

  • All switches in a particular stack must be in the same IP subnet (broadcast domain). A stack cannot cross a router.

  • A stack accepts up to 16 switches (numbered 0-15), including the Commander (always numbered 0).

  • The stacking feature supports up to 100 switches in the same IP subnet (broadcast domain), however, a switch can belong to only one stack. In the event that the 100 switch limit is exceeded, it may take multiple attempts to add or move a member to any given stack. Once a member is added to a stack, it is not "forgotten" by the Commander.

  • The stack status (all) command will display up to 100 devices. Devices that are not members of a given stack may periodically drop out of the list.

  • If multiple VLANs are configured, stacking uses only the primary VLAN on any switch. In the factory-default configuration, the DEFAULT_VLAN is the primary VLAN. (See Stacking operation with multiple VLANs configured and The primary VLAN.)

  • Stacking allows intermediate devices that do not support stacking. This enables you to include switches that are distant from the Commander.
    A non-stacking device used in a stacking environment