Distribution switch config, stack or seperate with hsrp

[carl_townshend]

Hi all

I am installing some new distribution switches on my campus, all access switches will connect to them in the same closet, my question is should I stack them and have L3 vlans running no hsrp, all access switches will have a connection to stack member 1 and 2, so if we lose one switch it will be fine.

Or do I separate the switches, run a trunk between them and have HSRP configured ?

what is the best option?

cheers

Carl

[sansarav720e]

Hi Carl ,

               What is your Switch Hardware for your new distribution switches , Stacking is mainly meant for doubling your switch bandwidth .

   What is your traffic load from your user access segment . Do you see huge traffic where single hardware cant process your traffic ??

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Cisco StackWise technology provides an innovative new method for collectively utilizing the capabilities of a stack of switches. Individual switches intelligently join to create a single switching unit with a 32-Gbps switching stack interconnect. Configuration and routing information is shared by every switch in the stack, creating a single switching unit. Switches can be added to and deleted from a working stack without affecting performance.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps5023/prod_white_paper09186a00801b096a.html

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On Distribution layer its always better to run on HA mode with Gateway redudancy protocol .

HTH

Regards
Santhosh Saravanan