MDS9134 Stacked configuration

[Steven.langdale_2]

Hello All

I'm currently replacing an existing Brocade SAN with a 9134 based one (not a big site).

Now the 9134 is also available in a stacked config (buying through IBM)  which consists:

1 x 9134

2 x 10Gb port activation Licenses

2 x 10Gb CX4 copper transceivers

1 x CX4 Cable

You obvously buy these in pairs to stack a pair of switches, I've looked around, but i'm still not 100% what you actually get.

Do you still have two switches and a fast ISL or does it appear as 1 bigger switch?  IF one big switch is one the master and thats the one you connect your ethernet management cable into?

Many thanks.

Steven

[carl.wallace]

After reviewing the various Cisco docs in more detail, I noted some inconsistencies between two different 9100 series hardware install guides (online vs PDF), so I opened a case with Cisco to confirm the behavior of the devices once the cables have been implemented.

This appears to be a case of poorly-written documentation. The switches do not "stack" to create a single logical switch. When connected, the switches will form an ISL** and retain separate domain ID's, which is the behavior I've verified by reviewing the showtech details for two switches connected this way.

EXAMPLE OUTPUT:

SW1

fc1/33     1      auto   on      trunking         c1470  TE      10   --

fc1/34     1      auto   on      trunking         c1470  TE      10   --

SW2

fc1/33     1      auto   on      trunking         c1470  TE      10   --

fc1/34     1      auto   on      trunking         c1470  TE      10   --

**The 'Cisco MDS 9100 Series Hardware Installation Guide' (OL-21514-01) states:

A 64-port switch can be formed out of Cisco two MDS 9134 Switches by using a copper CX4 X2 transceiver as an Inter-Switch Link (ISL).