Catalyst 3560 Stack

[brianchernicoff]

We've used 3750's with stack cables in the back for our LAN switches but our budget got reduced and we're looking for alternatives. I'm looking at 3560G as it's significantly less expensive than the 3750 series.

When I asked my account rep if they're stackable, he said yes, but I would need to purchase a Cisco Patch Cable SFP - SFP.

I have no experience using this setup, am I losing any capability in terms of management? Other differences in this type of stack that I should know about?

In a perfect world I would like to see the stack as one switch as I do with my 3750's, with gi1/01, gi2/0/1 interfaces.

[p.mcgowan · Accepted solution]

3560's do not stack in the same way that you stack 3750's together with a stackwise cable which creates one switch with a 32Gb backplane.

the SPF-SPF cable your account rep is refering to is a 1Gb sfp module which is basically 2 sfp modules with a fixed cable between them that will connect via a SFP port on each switch, this is not a stack as you are used to. This will provide 2 seperate switches, 2 ip addresses, 2 configs, etc with only 1Gb connectivity between the switches.

You can get 2960-S switches that can have a stack module inserted in the rear of the switch which provides a flex stack this is similar to the 3750 stacks, here is more details;

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps6406/white_paper_c11-578928.html

2960-S are lower cost and do not provide all the functionality of 3560's but if you only need a L2 switch with the felxability of stacking these would be my choice

[brianchernicoff]

Thanks so much that's all great information. I should be find with L2, just have to convince my boss!

[Joseph W. Doherty]

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Just keep in mind, the 2960S Flexstack doesn't offer the stack performance or allow as many stackable units.  If L2, alone, is sufficient, you might also want to consider the 2975 depending on your requirements.

[Leo Laohoo]

I hope you are not talking about switch clusterning are you?