Netgear FSM726v3 7000 Series Managed Switch Administration Guide for Software - Page 372

NETGEAR Managed Switches Software Administration Manual, Release 8.0 A standalone switch is a switch stack with one stack member that also operates as the stack master. You can connect one standalone switch to another to create a switch stack containing two stack members, with one of them being the stack master. You can connect standalone switches to an existing switch stack to increase the stack membership. If you replace a stack member with an identical model, the new switch functions with exactly the same configuration as the replaced switch, assuming that the new switch is using the same member number as the replaced switch. For information about the benefits of preconfiguring a switch stack, see "Preconfiguration" on page 19-14. The operation of the switch stack continues uninterrupted during membership changes unless you remove the stack master or you add powered-on standalone switches or switch stacks. • Adding powered-on switches (merging) causes the stack masters of the merging switch stacks to elect a stack master from among themselves. The re-elected stack master retains its role and configuration and so do its stack members. All remaining switches, including the former stack masters, reload and join the switch stack as stack members. They change their stack member numbers to the lowest available numbers and use the stack configuration of the re-elected stack master. Therefore, when you merge two powered stacks, you cannot control which unit becomes stack master and which configuration is used. For these reasons, it is recommended that powered switches be powered down before adding to an existing operating stack. • Removing powered-on stack members can cause the switch stack to divide (partition) into two or more switch stacks, each with the same configuration. However, if cabled properly, the switch stack should not divide. • If the switch stack divides, and you want the switch stacks to remain separate, change the IP address or addresses of the newly created switch stacks. • If you did not intend to partition the switch stack: • Power off the newly created switch stacks • Reconnect them to the original switch stack through their stacking ports • Power on the switches Switch Stack Cabling (FSM73xxS) Figure 19-1 and Figure 19-2 illustrate how individual switches are interconnected to form a stack. You can 19-3 v1.0, October 2009 Managing Switch Stacks