Mixing Catalyst 3750 and 3750X switches in the same stack

[martinward1234]

Hi,

I'm currently planning on deploying a switch stack that would consist of the following switches:

2 x Catalyst 3750 12 SFP port switches

2 x Catalyst 3750X 48 10/100/1000 port switches

Cisco do claim that the 3750X is backwards compatible with the older 3750 platform, however it would seem that they run different software trains and this raises a few concerns.

I would be very grateful if anybody else has had experience mixing switches in the same stack from the two different platforms and more importantly if they have had any issues doing so.

[tprendergast]

You will be fine. They are fully stack-compatible.

If you look closely, the 3750 and 3750x actually run the same train. They are both on 12.2SE.

The latest for both comes up in the IOS navigator and downloads as 12.2.55-SE (ED).

Enjoy!

[raymond.leung]

... what if , as i am doing , there exists old stack of 3750 of IPservices, now buying two 3750X LAN Base and wanting to stack onto ?  The existing stack has IP routing turned on, too.

What will happen ?

[raymond.leung]

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps6406/data_sheet_c78-584733.html

"

The Cisco Catalyst 3750-X Series Switches with LAN Base feature set can only stack with other Cisco Catalyst 3750-X Series LAN Base switches. A mixed stack of LAN Base switch with IP Base or IP Services features set is not supported."

[vinupeter_19]

Can I Mix a 3750-E Stack running c3750-advipservicesk9-mz.122-40.SE with a 3750-X running C3750E-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 12.2(53)SE2  ?

Regards,

Vinu

[hobbe]

No

They are not compatible

you need to use the same software versions.

c3750-advipservicesk9-mz.122-40.SE

is not the same as

C3750E-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 12.2(53)SE2

Good luck

HTH

[Leo Laohoo]

The E and X are tricky because of the licensing.  On the proviso that your "X" and "E" have the same license feature you have two choices:

1.  You can either roll out the "universal" feature set  to both switches; or

2.  You can either roll out the "advanced IP services" feature set

[vinupeter_19]

There was a mistake in my post the older stack that i have is of 3750 switches not the E series..

Stack 1

WS-C3750-48TS  - c3750-advipservicesk9-mz.122-40.SE.bin

WS-C3750-24TS  - c3750-advipservicesk9-mz.122-40.SE.bin

New Switch

WS-C3750X-24T-S - c3750e-universalk9-mz.122-53.SE2.bin

As Universal IOS is not available for WS-C3750-48TS models, will it work if i downgrade the IOS of my existing stack to 'c3750-ipbasek9-mz.122-53.SE2.bin'

Do i have to change my new switch IOS also to 'c3750e-ipbasek9-mz.122-53.SE2.bin'  for proper operation ?

Is there any link that shows the compatablity matrix of these in Cisco ?

[FlorianBerthelot]

Hi vinupeter,

If you found any doc on this i would really appreciate, It seems to work with IPbase on both switches (3750X and 3750) but a compatibility matrix dwould be helpful, let me know if you find something like this. I continue on my side my researches.

Resgards

[ilya_p]

There is one more side of this issue: we tried to mix 3750v1 and 3750v2 it was quite difficult because there was no enough FLASH memory available on 3750v1 to instal latest version from 3750v2 to 3750v1. We have to make IOS downgrade on 3750v2

[regnoble21]

as long as they in the same train you should have no issues. i just did this with 2 48port g and a 24port x series..

Switch Ports Model              SW Version            SW Image

------ ----- -----              ----------            ----------

*    1 52    WS-C3750G-48PS     15.0(1)SE2            C3750-IPSERVICESK9-M

     2 52    WS-C3750G-48PS     15.0(1)SE2            C3750-IPSERVICESK9-M

     3 30    WS-C3750X-24P      15.0(1)SE2            C3750E-UNIVERSALK9-M

Switch#  Role   Mac Address     Priority Version  State

----------------------------------------------------------

*1       Master 15     0       Ready

2       Member 13     0       Ready

3       Member 11     1       Ready

[Joseph W. Doherty]

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Posting

I've worked with original and later series mixed switch stacks, but like to avoid making them whenever possible.  The original series forces the newer StackWisePlus ring to run in original StackWise mode.  IOS maintenance is a pain.

In your particular case, be aware the original 3750G-12S has special SDM templates unique to it.  If being used, you need to change the common SDM templates (losing one of the major features of the -12S).

[katharsis.ru]

Hi all!

I have two switches 3750G-24 and 3750x-24 with IOS

c3750-ipservicesk9-tar.122-58.SE2 for 3750G and

c3750e-universalk9-tar.122-58.SE2 for 3750x with features like this:

Switch3750x#sh 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

Is it possible to stack these cats or i need the same feature sets?

[Ankur Arora]

Hi Vladimir,

Yes, you can stack both the switches. Ipservices and ipbase license switches can be stacked together. However the only concern in that you have an evaluation ipservices license on the 3750x. So after the evaluation period is expired, if you reload the switch you might loose the stack.

But if you keep on running the 3750xswitch without any reload after the license expiration period, there shouldn't be any issues.

Thanks

Ankur

"Please rate the post if found useful"

[katharsis.ru]

Are you realy sure?

I don't want to loose my stack in any situation!

I have a limited time to connect new 3750x to current 3750G (master) in production and must to minimal risks.

If I load current 3750G config to 3750x with minor changes then is it show me that evaluation period has started or not?

If there is one chance to loose stack may be will better to downgrade 3750G ?