Netgear M4100-26G Software Administration Manual - Page 351

ProSafe M4100 and M7100 Managed Switches 1. The switch that is currently the stack master. 2. The switch with the highest stack member priority value. Note: NETGEAR recommends assigning the highest priority value to the switch that you prefer to be the stack master. This ensures that the switch is re-elected as stack master if a re-election occurs. 3. The switch with the higher MAC address. A stack master retains its role unless one of these events occurs: • The stack master is removed from the switch stack • The stack master is reset or powered off • The stack master has failed • The switch stack membership is increased by adding powered-on standalone switches or switch stacks In the case of a master re-election, the new stack master becomes available after a few seconds. In the meantime, the switch stack uses the forwarding tables in memory to minimize network disruption. The physical interfaces on the other available stack members are not affected while a new stack master is elected. If a new stack master is elected and the previous stack master becomes available, the previous stack master does not resume its role as stack master. Stack Members A switch stack has up to 8 stack members connected through their stacking ports. A switch stack always has one stack master. 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. 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. Stack Member Numbers A stack member number (1 to 8) identifies each member in the switch stack. The member number also determines the interface-level configuration that a stack member uses. You can display the stack member number by using the show switch user EXEC command. A new, out-of-the-box switch (one that has not joined a switch stack or has not been manually assigned a stack member number) ships with a default stack member number of 1. When it Chapter 19. Switch Stacks | 351