Connecting a 2960L to a 3560 via SFP

[fred2k3]

Hi,

I'm trying to find out if I would be able to connect a WS-C2960L-24TS-LL to a stack of 3 Catalyst 3560-48PS switches via the SFP ports?

I know the 2960 is not stackable, I just want to uplink it to the existing 3 3560s (which we don't currently have management access to).

Being new to the world of managed switches, I'm not sure what the procedure is.  I'm guessing I would need to access the management side of things on the new and existing switches to setup the up-link (as opposed to a regular desktop switch where you just hook up the cat-5 cables and it all works)?

So to summarise, I'm trying to find out:

a) are the 2 different series of switches "compatible" via SFP (providing I have the correct module & cables of course), and if so..

b) What steps (in a nutshell) are required to get them communicating together?

Thanks

[Kirk J]

Greetings.

Before plugging up additional switches, you'll want to get management access to your 3560 switches.

If VTP is in use, you really want to understand the roles, and make sure the new 2960 switch is probably in 'client' mode.

The 3560's have more advanced L3 routing options than do the 2960's, although I think both these POE series switches were targeted towards phones and desktops.

You'll need to consider your VLANs in use, what ports the VLANs are allowed on.

Also will want to consider using port-channels between your 2960L and your 3560 stack for increased bandwidth, redundancy, and fewer blocked ports due to spanning tree.

Thanks,

Kirk...