Can WS-C2960-8TC-S do stack?

[davidnghk]

I got two Cisco 2960 8 port switch, model WS-C2960-8TC-S

1 can they do stack?

2 how to wire?

3 which firmware?

4 how to upgrade?

thank you so much.

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

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@davidnghk wrote:
1 can they do stack?

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Yes and no.  No, they don't but they can with Switch Clustering. 

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@davidnghk wrote:
3 which firmware?

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12.2(55)SE12 or 15.0(2)SE11

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@davidnghk wrote:
4 how to upgrade?

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IOS Upgrade on Catalyst Switches 29xx, 3560/3750 -- Easy as Pi

[davidnghk]

Thank you so much for replying @Leo Laohoo 
wow, "Switch Clustering" is a very new concept to me, may I ask, will it work if
1. I only have "one Command-switch" + "one standby command switches", there is no other "member switch", these two switch are connected by one Ethernet cable.
2. computer A has two NIC card (NIC B and NIC C).
3. "NIC B" connect to the "Command-switch", and "NIC C" connect to "standby command switches", and for example both switch connect to different ISP to access the internet.
4. so if the "Command-switch" fail, and the "standby command switches" will take up the task and computer A still able to access internet?

[Leo Laohoo]

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@davidnghk wrote:
wow, "Switch Clustering" is a very new concept to me

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Switch Clustering is an old concept going back 15 years (or more).  Switch Clustering is also very IOS version dependent.  Newer version has this feature disabled due to security vulnerability (Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Cluster Management Protocol Remote Code Execution Vulnerability).  

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@davidnghk wrote:
1. I only have "one Command-switch" + "one standby command switches", there is no other "member switch", these two switch are connected by one Ethernet cable.
2. computer A has two NIC card (NIC B and NIC C).
3. "NIC B" connect to the "Command-switch", and "NIC C" connect to "standby command switches", and for example both switch connect to different ISP to access the internet.
4. so if the "Command-switch" fail, and the "standby command switches" will take up the task and computer A still able to access internet?

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Yes and no.  And both answers have nothing to do with switch clustering. 
Does NIC B and NIC C have two separate IP addresses?

[davidnghk]

thank you @Leo Laohoo  , I am new to networking, so everything is new to me.

yes, NIC B and NIC C has different IP, but in the same subnet.
and the the 2 switch I have are 2960, but sort of different model.
one is WS-C2960-8TC-L, the other one is WS-C2960-8TC-S.

so can they work together as "Command-switch" and "standby command switches",
and no other member switch,
to form a failover link?

[Leo Laohoo]

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@davidnghk wrote:
yes, NIC B and NIC C has different IP, but in the same subnet.

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Yes, they can failover but in a crude way.

[davidnghk]

@Leo Laohoowhat do you mean by in a crude way?

[Leo Laohoo]

If each NIC has their own IP addresses and one of the two switches fail, for obvious reasons, the NIC homed to the failed switch will no longer ping. 
However, the other NIC will still work.  
So, failover will work.  It is just crude.