Best Practice To Use Uplink Connection on Stacked Switches

[zekebash]

Hello, 

Refer to the the following document: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-9200-series-switches/nb-06-stackwise-architecture-cte-en.html

I have 5 x C9200 switches which I am planning to configure in a Stackwise 160/80. I wanted to find out the best practice to uplink these stacked switches to the distribution-layer switches which are configure in a VSS? 

 -- Should I use two members switches (not the active nor the standby) for the uplink? 

"When these switches are deployed in stack configuration mode, we recommend maintaining the same uplink connection design principle as for a dual stack-member system. The recommendation is to use uplinks on the member switches with multichassis EtherChannel (MEC), which helps with spanning multiple uplinks over the member switches. For example, eight Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches deployed in a stack ring would have multiple diversified uplink ports from member switches. The remaining switches, where uplinks are not connected, would forward the data toward the core using a high-speed stack backplane."

[Reza Sharifi · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Should I use two members switches (not the active nor the standby) for the uplink? 

I would use one link from the master switch and one from a member. This way, all control traffic like management traffic goes directly to the master and out to the VSS.

"When these switches are deployed in stack configuration mode, we recommend maintaining the same uplink connection design principle as for a dual stack-member system. The recommendation is to use uplinks on the member switches with multichassis EtherChannel (MEC), which helps with spanning multiple uplinks over the member switches. For example, eight Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches deployed in a stack ring would have multiple diversified uplink ports from member switches. The remaining switches, where uplinks are not connected, would forward the data toward the core using a high-speed stack backplane."

Using the master switch accomplishes the same thing but with fewer hubs as explained above.

HTH