This article explains how to Stack a Dell Networking Force10 MXL Blade Switch with one or more MXL Blade switches.
Objectives
Stacking Prerequisites
Before you cable and configure a stack please review the following:
Configuring a Stack
To configure and bring up a switch stack, follow these steps:
Cabling
Steps to physically cable:
Commands to Configure Stack Ports
The external 40gb ports on the MXL are split into 6 different Stack-Groups. See below for the proper labeling. Stack groups 0 and 1 are hard set ports on the switch. Stack groups 2-5 are optional add in modules that require additional purchase.
Here are the commands needed to configure a switch into a stack. The same commands will need to be performed on all switches that are to be in the stack.
When cabling in a ring topology a second port would also need to be configured for stacking.
Command |
Purpose |
FTOS# configure |
Enter configuration mode. |
FTOS(conf)# stack-unit 0 stack-group 0 |
Set switch (stack-unit) and specific ports (stack-group) in stack mode. See above picture for stack group numbering sequence. |
FTOS(conf)# exit |
Exit / Leave configuration mode. |
FTOS# write memory |
Save running configuration to the start up configuration. |
FTOS# reload |
Reboot / Restart the switch. |
Verify Stack Configuration
Dell# show system stack-ports
Topology: Ring
Interface Connection Link Speed Admin Status Link Status Trunk Group
0/33 1/37 40 up up
0/37 1/33 40 up up
1/33 0/37 40 up up
1/37 0/33 40 up up
Dell# show system brief
-- Stack Info --
Unit UnitType Status ReqTyp CurTyp Version Ports
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 Management online MXL-10/40GbE MXL-10/40GbE 9-1-0-853 56
1 Standby online MLX-10/40GbE MXL-10/40GbE 9-1-0-853 56