Cisco 3850 Switches Stacking

Cisco 3850 switches
Stacking
Agenda
• Introduction
• Requirements
• Components used
• Network Diagram
• How to cable the stack
• Adding switch to the stack
• Verify commands
• Troubleshooting
• Q&A
2
Introduction-
• This document describes the process to properly form a

stack-wise and power stack with Cisco Catalyst 3850
switches. It also shows the use of some commands that
will help to troubleshoot why a stack is not forming
properly.
3
Requirements
• In order to be able to form a switch stack at least 2 switches must

be used.
• The IOS version used must be the same for all switches.
• The same mode must be used on all the switches INSTALL or

BUNDLE mode.
• The right type of cables must be used to achieve stack completion.

Be aware that, cables for the 3750 platform do not work on the 3850
platform.
4
Components Used
• Cisco Catalyst 3850 switches.
• Cisco 3850 Stack wise cables.
• Cisco 3850 stack power cables.
5
Network Diagram
The example below, shows how to properly connect a stack of six 3850
switches, together with a power-stack connection example.
Note: The process will be similar for stacks of 2,3,4,5,7,8 and 9 switches.
Each switch has two stack-wise ports(left), let's name the stack wise ports P1
and P2 as shown in the picture.
switch_1 P1 connects to switch_2 P2 (Green cable)

switch_2 P1 connects to switch_3 P2 ( Orange cable)
switch_3 P1 connects to switch_4 P2 (Purple cable)
switch_4 P1 connects to switch_5 P2 (Violet cable)
switch_5 P1 connects to switch_6 P2 (Yellow cable)
switch_6 P1 connects to switch_1 P2 (Brown cable)
6
Network Diagram
7
How to cable the stack for power-stack
configuration
Stack Power is a feature that allows the power supplies to share the load across
multiple devices in a stack. By connecting the switches with power stack cables, the
power supplies of up to four stack members can be managed as a one large power
supply that provides power to all switches and to the powered devices connected to
switch ports.
Each switch has two power-stack ports, lets call the ports A and B ( A top, B bottom)
From switch 1 port A we connect to switch 2 port B (pink cable).
From switch 1 port B we connect to switch 4 port A (pale green cable)
From switch 2 port A we connect to switch 3 port B (blue cable)
From switch 3 port A we connect to switch 4 port B (red cable)
From switch 5 port A we connect to switch 6 port B (Red cable).

From switch 6 port A we connect to switch 5 port B (pale blue cable)
Note: Be aware that currently up to four switches can be used on a power-stack

configuration and up to nine for a data stack.
8
Adding a switch to the stack
Note: The switch to be added to the stack must be off. Otherwise, the whole stack will reload.
1.- Add the new switch to the stack by connecting the stack cables to the switch (every cable has a cisco logo on the
connector, it must be in the upright position) as shown in the picture below (1):
Picture 2. How to connect the stack-wise cable. (Data cables)
2.- Once the stack-wise cables have been properly connected to the switch, power on the newly
added switch either using the power supplies or the power-stack cables.
9
Verify commands
After the switch has come up, collect the following :
* show switch
* show switch stack-ports
* sh version
On the show switch output verify that the current state of all switches is READY.
Switch#show switch
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 6400.f125.1b80 - Local Mac Address
Mac persistency wait time: Indefinite
H/W Current
Switch# Role Mac Address Priority Version State
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*1 Active 6400.f125.1b80 15 0 Ready
2 Standby 6400.f155.1dF0 14 0 Ready
On the show switch stack-ports verify that all the ports are shown as OK, that is an indication that the stack-wise cables are working
properly:
Switch#show switch stack-ports

Switch # Port 1 Port 2
-------- ------ ------
1 OK OK
2 OK OK
3 OK OK
4 OK OK
5 OK OK
6 OK OK
10
Verify commands
With the show version command, verify that all the switches on the stack have the
same IOS version installed and that all of them have the same mode install or bundle.
Switch Ports Model SW Version SW Image Mode

------ - ------ ------------------------ ----------------------- -------------------------------- ----------
1 56 WS-C3850-48P 03.02.03.SE cat3k_caa-universalk9 INSTALL

11
Troubleshooting
The stack might not form properly, this can be due to several reasons. Below there are some of the most common situations
showing why a stack does not form properly.
This can be due to a cable not properly connected or to a faulty stack port on the switch:
Make sure that the cable logo (Cisco logo) is in the upright position on both ends of the cable.
Make sure the cable is plugged in correctly and is not loose.
It can be due to a version mismatch, make sure that all the switches on the stack have the same IOS image.
The auto-upgrade feature can be configured so every time a switch is added to the stack this will be automatically upgraded to
the IOS version used on the stack.
#sh switch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*1 Active 6400.f125.1480 15 V01 Ready
2 Standby 6400.f125.2680 14 0 V-Mismatch
3 Member 6400.f125.2500 13 0 V-Mismatch
4 Member 6400.f125.2480 12 0 V-Mismatch
It might be due to a license version mismatch, verify that all the switches on the stack have the same license level.
The license level can be verified with the show license-right-to use command.
#sh switch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*1 Active 6400.f125.1480 15 V01 Ready
2 Standby 6400.f125.2680 14 V01 Ready
3 Member 6400.f125.2500 13 V01 Ready
4 Member 6400.f125.2480 12 0 Lic-Mismatch
12
Q&A
13
Thank You
14

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Cisco 3850 switches

• This document describes the process to properly form a

• In order to be able to form a switch stack at least 2 switches must

• The same mode must be used on all the switches INSTALL or

• The right type of cables must be used to achieve stack completion.

switch_1 P1 connects to switch_2 P2 (Green cable)

From switch 5 port A we connect to switch 6 port B (Red cable).

Note: Be aware that currently up to four switches can be used on a power-stack

Picture 2. How to connect the stack-wise cable. (Data cables)

Switch#show switch stack-ports

Switch Ports Model SW Version SW Image Mode

1 56 WS-C3850-48P 03.02.03.SE cat3k_caa-universalk9 INSTALL

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