2960 model in a rack

[13jobsp90]

I have a series of switches in a rack say 4 switches.

SW1

SW2

SW3

SW4

They are not stacked curently, so i am getting a uplink from distribution switch to SW1 and then to other switches to get uplink which is the best way to avoid loop? likse cascading like sw1 to sw2 then sw2 to sw3 then from sw3 to sw4. which is better option?

[Karsten Iwen]

Spanning-Tree is the feature to handle the loop. Without stacking and redundant connections, you will always have single points of failure. But you could build something like this instead of o daisy chain:

[balaji.bandi]

Best for redundancy and loop-free Stacking, if that is not your requirement.

alternation option - in this case SW1 is dependency(if the SW1 fails no network connection to other Switches reaching distributiion)

SW1 - SW2

SW1 - SW3

SW1 - SW4

If you have Fibres / or link to Distribution My best suggestion as below : (in this case there is no Loops in the network and have high availability and easy to manage - upgrades and any other maintenance)

Dist-SW - SW1

Dist-SW - SW2

Dist-SW - SW3

Dist-SW - SW4

[13jobsp90]

which is best?

[balaji.bandi]

Its all depends on what resource you have, best is Star so no dependency of each other switches, only control from Distribution.

Dist-SW - SW1

Dist-SW - SW2

Dist-SW - SW3

Dist-SW - SW4

Note : thinking that you not able to purchanse any more stack cables or this models can support or stacking or not.

[M02@rt37]

Hello @13jobsp90 

If possible, use a star topology (as @Karsten Iwen and @balaji.bandi @ mention) with each switch conected directly to the distribution switch...Best approach since no loops and failure of one c2960 switch does not impact the others.

If ports are limited on the Distrib, use a daisy chain but minimize. No loop will be formed in this setup as long as you only have a single uplink to the distib switch.

!!! avoid a ring topology unless you have proper STP config !!!

[Joseph W. Doherty]

BTW, unless yours is an early 2960 series model, they support stacking as one logical device.  (May require stack module.)

About the only advantage of a cascaded daisy chain topology, it may minimize amount of cabling needed to interconnect switches.

Also, BTW, if there east-west traffic, between those switches, the star topology is better.

The star topology also reduces latency and reduces some single point of failures impact.