2960x & 2960s stacking?

[Richard Dellaterza]

Hey guys recently I tried to introduce a 2960x switch into a 2960s stack.

I prepped the bpth switches and made sure the prefer sdm was set to default as well as setting the stack port speed on the 2960s stack to 10 so its would be compatible.

Once i stacked the switches i got a version mismatch error and an auto upgrade message, after waiting roughly 40 minutes with no succcessful upgrade i removed the X switch from the stack

below are the IOS running on both switches

*    1 52    WS-C2960S-48FPS-L  15.0(2)SE5            C2960S-UNIVERSALK9-M

     2 28    WS-C2960S-24TD-L   15.0(2)SE5            C2960S-UNIVERSALK9-M

3 52    WS-C2960X-48FPD-L  15.0(2)EX4            C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M

Any thoughts on how to successfully stacked these?? Thanks in advance

[Pierluigi Torriani]

  Hi,

some info about stacking different switch 2960S with 2960X.

More info is available at:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-2960-x-series-switches/white_paper_c11-728327.html

Hope this can help you.

Mixed Stacks: FlexStack and FlexStack-Plus

The 2960-S and 2960-X support a mixed stack of 2960 models. All  these 2960 models run the FlexStack protocol, allowing them to be  stacked together into a single stack. The exception is the 2960-XR does  not stack with either the 2960-X or the 2960-S. The 2960-XR has the  IP-Lite feature set, and this is not compatible with the LAN Base  feature set on the 2960-X and 2960-XR. Table 2 shows all the allowed  mixed stack combinations. What is crucial is the Cisco IOS Software  feature set. All 2960 models with the LAN Base Cisco IOS Software  feature set can stack together.

Table 2. Allowed Mixed Stack Combinations

Mixed Stack Combination	2960-XR IP Lite	2960-X LAN Base	2960-S LAN Base
2960-XR IP Lite	Yes	No	No
2960-X LAN Base	No	Yes	Yes
2960-S LAN Base	No	Yes	Yes

Table 3 shows FlexStack-Plus backward compatibility and performance of 2960-X and 2960-XR with the 2960-S switches.

Table 3. Backward Compatibility

Scale of Mixed Stack Combination	Max Stack Bandwidth	Stack Limit	Cisco IOS Software Feature Set
2960-XR IP Lite	80Gbps	8	IP Lite
2960-X LAN Base	80Gbps	8	LAN Base
2960-X, 2960-S LAN Base	40Gbps	4	LAN Base

When the 2960-S and 2960-X members are stacked together, the entire  stack (even the 2960-X members) fall back to FlexStack capabilities.  Mixing 2960 members limits the max stack members to four, and 20Gbps  stack bandwidth per member, and 40Gbps per stack.

[JohnTylerPearce]

This might be able to help you out.

Q. Which SDM template should be  selected on the Cisco Catalyst 2960-X Series with LAN Base to form a  mixed stack with Cisco Catalyst 2960-S?

A. If Cisco Catalyst 2960-S is  running the "default" SDM template, then Cisco Catalyst 2960-X must use  the "default" template. If Cisco Catalyst 2960-S is running the  "lanbase-routing" template, then Cisco Catalyst 2960-X must use the  same.

Q. Can Cisco Catalyst 2960-S be the stack master in a mixed stack of 2960-S and 2960-X switches?

A. Yes. Cisco Catalyst 2960-S can be stack master in a mixed stack.

Q. In a mixed stack of Cisco Catalyst 2960-S and 2960-X, must all the switches be on the same Cisco IOS Software release?

A. Yes. All the switches in the  stack, regardless of model, must be on the same Cisco IOS Software  release. This includes the rebuild number. The minimum Cisco IOS  Software release that will support both 2960-S and 2960-X is 15.0(2)EX.

Q. Can we use FlexStack stacking modules with Cisco Catalyst 2960-X Series?

A. No. The form factors of  FlexStack-Plus and FlexStack modules are different. The FlexStack  stacking module cannot be used with the Cisco Catalyst 2960-X Series.  Similarly, the FlexStack-Plus module cannot be used with the Cisco  Catalyst 2960-S Series.

[Leo Laohoo]

Yes, you can stack 2960X with 2960S but you can only stack UP TO four (4) switches in a stack.

NOTE:

1.  I have not tried using the 15.0(2)EX4 IOS with the 15.0(2)SE4 IOS.  So I cannot tell you if this will work or not.  I am suspecting you can, but I am not sure.

2.  I strongly recommend you stay as far away as possible IOS version 15.0(2)SE5.  It's not a good version.  Downgrade to 15.0(2)SE4.