Can I stack a WS-C3750X-48T-S to a WS-C3750G-48PS-E ?

tdennehy · ‎02-25-2014

I was recently brought into a project that a former employee left behind. A remote site has a WS-C3750G-48PS-E trunked (not stacked) to a WS-C3750X-48T-S.

The goal was to have them stacked. I logged into the "X" switched and changed the priority to 1 since I figured that would be the slave. I logged into the "G" switch and changed its priority to 15 to ensure it was the master since it is doing the routing.

I then tried to configure the core switch to create the "provisioned configuration". I did not expect to discover that the WS-C3750X-48T-S was not in the list of switches to stack to it.

Does anyone know how I can accomplish this? I see that when I pretend to configure the "X" switch, the "G" switch is listed as something I can stack to it. It is as if the X switch can stack to the G switch, but the G switch can't stack to the X switch?!?

Any insight is appreciated.

core-1(config)#switch 2 provision ?
nme-xd-24es-1s         provision an EtherSwitch SM with 24+1G interfaces
nme-xd-24es-1s-p       provision an EtherSwitch SM with 24+1G interfaces
ws-c3750-24fs          provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 24FX+2G
                         interfaces
ws-c3750-24p           provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 24pwr+2G
                         interfaces
ws-c3750-24ts          provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 24+2G interfaces
ws-c3750-48p           provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 48pwr+4G
                         interfaces
ws-c3750-48ts          provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 48+4G interfaces
ws-c3750e-24pd         provision a Catalyst 3750E switch with 24GPwr+2TenG
                         interfaces
ws-c3750e-24td         provision a Catalyst 3750E switch with 24G+2TenG
                         interfaces
ws-c3750e-48pd         provision a Catalyst 3750E switch with 48GPwr+2TenG
                         interfaces
ws-c3750e-48td         provision a Catalyst 3750E switch with 48G+2TenG
                         interfaces
ws-c3750g-12s          provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 12G interfaces
ws-c3750g-12s-d        provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 12G interfaces
                         and DC power supply
ws-c3750g-16td         provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 16G+1XENPAK
                         interfaces
ws-c3750g-24ps         provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 24Gpwr+4G
                         interfaces
ws-c3750g-24t          provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 24GTX interfaces
ws-c3750g-24ts         provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 24GTX+4G
                         interfaces
ws-c3750g-24ts-1u      provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 24GTX+4G
                         interfaces
ws-c3750g-24ws-s25/50 provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 24Gpwr+2G
                         interfaces + Wireless Controller
ws-c3750g-48ps         provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 48Gpwr +4G
                         interfaces
ws-c3750g-48ts         provision a Catalyst 3750 switch with 48GTX+4G

Leo Laohoo · ‎02-25-2014

Let's go back a few steps.

What is the IOS versions of both switches?

In order to stack, both units must run the same IOS versions and the same feature set.

I am suspecting that both units do not have the same IOS and this is why they were not stacked.

tdennehy · ‎02-25-2014

The switch they were adding was the X switch. It has non-matching IOS. I have copied (what I think is the correct) IOS to the X switch and was prepping for a reboot so it would match the G switch. Now I'm going to have to go back and see if I even have the right image on there since the box is 2500 miles from me.

However, that X switch has the commands to stack to a G switch. But the G switch does not have the command to stack to an X switch. Here's what the G is running... (the X will have the same when it reboots, but I need to go check it again)

WS-C3750G-48PS 12.2(46)SE C3750-IPBASEK9-M

I'm also wondering if I simply need to bump up the code on the G switch to something later so that it will know about X switches and then stack to them. I'm thinking the G switch's code was prior to the X switch being born.

I could always go see if we have a spare G switch and just send that to them and be done with it..

Leo Laohoo · ‎02-25-2014

You will need to upgrade the IOS of the 3750G because the current IOS, 12.2(46)SE, the 3750G is using will NEVER support 3750X.

I would recommend you download and use 12.2(55)SE8 for both.

tdennehy · ‎02-26-2014

So if I understand you correctly, the WS-C3750G-48PS-E that is running 12.2(46)SE C3750-IPBASEK9-M needs IPBASEk9 that runs 12.2.55.SE8? This box is the core that is doing all the routing for this office complex.

The 3750X-48 is running WS-C3750X-48 12.2(55)SE5 C3750E-UNIVERSALK9-M and needs the same exact train, except12.2.(55)SE8?

I sure wish there was a software compatability matrix out there... but I have not found one. This is all I could find:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst3750x_3560x/software/release/12-2_55_se/configuration/guide/3750xscg/swstack.html#wp1142379

tdennehy · ‎02-26-2014

The 3750-X has the following license:

sw-nfs#sho lic
Index 1 Feature: ipservices
        Period left: 8 weeks 4 days
        License Type: Evaluation
        License State: Active, Not in Use, EULA not accepted
        License Priority: None
        License Count: Non-Counted

Index 2 Feature: ipbase
        Period left: Life time
        License Type: Permanent
        License State: Active, In Use
        License Priority: Medium
        License Count: Non-Counted

Index 3 Feature: lanbase
Period left: 0 minute 0 second

Leo Laohoo · ‎02-26-2014

Index 2 Feature: ipbase

Period left: Life time

License Type: Permanent

License State: Active, In Use

Ok, so this tells me your 3750X has IP Base enabled. IP Services is NOT IN USE.

So if I understand  you correctly, the WS-C3750G-48PS-E that is running 12.2(46)SE C3750-IPBASEK9-M needs IPBASEk9 that runs 12.2.55.SE8?  This box is the core that is doing all the routing for this office complex.

I really can't say what kind of "routing" 12.2(46)SE IP Base will support.

tdennehy · ‎02-26-2014

Oh, you are going to LOVE Cisco TAC... because I finally got a reply from them after three days. And guess what they told me to put on there?

You guess it... Isn't that *special*...?

Leo Laohoo · ‎02-26-2014

You guess it...  Isn't that *special*...?

What did they say?

tdennehy · ‎02-26-2014

c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.150-1.SE1.bin on the X switch...

This is confusing. There really needs to be some sort of matrix out there. I wonder how many networks have been screwed up because of the lack of docs.

Even the TAC engineer said he couldn't find any internal document that was anything like a matrix.

Do the other vendors create the confusion for all of their customers as well?

Furose M · ‎02-26-2014

tdennehy

I am sorry that you had to wait for 3 days to get a response from TAC engineer.

in a stack, all the members should have same image version. but, you also shoudl consider what the supported IOS versiosn are in diffenrent platforms.

please refer to the following thread which has some helpful informaton regarding your situation.

https://supportforums.cisco.com/thread/2165402

Leo Laohoo · ‎02-26-2014

c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.150-1.SE1.bin on the X switch...

ROFL.

Let me share you a secret: I wouldn't tell you to be VERY CAREFUL when using this IOS if I myself haven't experience it. I have. It was scary at best.

I have no idea how many people in this forum were (past tense) using this IOS version are running into some sort of problem. But when I recommended that they go to either 15.0(2)SE4 or 12.2(55)SE8 their problems seems to disappear.

At the end of the day, it's your call. If you have to front management, you can easily respond with "Cisco TAC recommended this IOS".

At least I have given you an option should you run into issues.

tdennehy · ‎02-27-2014

I think I understand what you are saying...

Since the 3750x is running 12.2(55)SE5 (C3750E-UNIVERSALK9-M) right now, but only has the ipbase license installed, I can put c3750e-ipbasek9-mz.122-55.SE8 on it, or c3750e-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE8 because it only has the ipbase licensed and that is included in the universal.

The other switch, the WS-C3750G-48PS-E, I can put the c3750-ipbasek9-mz.122-55.SE8 on it since it will match up with either the universal or ipbase mentioned above...

Can you tell I haven't worked on the newer switches until now?

Leo Laohoo · ‎02-27-2014

Can you tell I haven't worked on the newer switches until now?

LOL.

Don't worry. You're doing just fine.

I've seen worst.