Moving an existing switch to a new stack?

[Mottok]

Hi, newbie question here, looking for the steps to move an existing switch in a stack to another existing stack please. I am pretty new to networking so please be gentle.

Removing the switch:

- What are the steps in terms of physically disconnecting the switch (and any differences if it's the primary switch versus say the last switch in the stack), powering down order, stacking cables etc?

Adding the switch to the bottom of the new stack:

-What physical steps should I be aware of or is it ok to just move/add the stacking cables so that the new switch attaches to the bottom of the new stack and power it on without powering down the rest of the stack?

- What configuation changes need to be made before attaching to the new stack? e.g. do I need to change the order of the switch etc? Apart from updating the switch ports themselves obviously.

Many thanks, really appreciate your advice.

[Seb Rupik · Accepted solution]

Hi there,
Switches can be added and removed 'hot' to and from a stack.

To remove a switch, ensure that the stack ring is unbroken, the command:
sh switch stack-ring speed
...should report 'Stack Ring Configuration: Full'

Remove the power from the switch and then the remaining cables front and rear. Reconnect the stack ring around the missing switch, ensure that the stack-ring is reporting Full again.

When adding a switch, ensure that it is first running the same software version as the target stack and that if it is an IOS-XE switch that it is in the same mode (INSTALL vs BUNDLE) as the target.

On the target stack issue the command switch xx provision <new_switch_model>. Ensure the target stack-ring is complete (ie, 'Full'), then break the stack ring at the point you want to insert your new switch. Completely cable the stack-ring before powering it on.

Once power is restored to the switch, you can observe its status with the command sh switch, as it moves from 'Provisioned' to 'Ready'.

cheers,
Seb.

[Mottok]

Legend, thank you so much for a quick and simple solution. Just a couple of questions if ok.

- Do I need to issue the command 'no switch stack-member-number provision' on the old stack after it has been removed?

- For the command "switch xx provision <new_switch_model>." If I was using a 3650 and moving the switch to an existing stack of 4 switches (so this was to be the 5th switch), could you tell me how this would be written (I find examples the easiest way to understand).

Thank you very much for your help.

[Seb Rupik]

Correct, you will need to issue the no switch xx provision command to remove the remnants of its config, where xx is its old position in the stack.

The provisioning command will look something like:

switch 5 provision ws-c3650-48ts

...obviously the switch product name may be different. Exactly what 3560 are you installing?

[Mottok]

Excellent thanks again. We are installing a mixture of WS-C3650-48PS & WS-C3650-48PD (think this is what you meant!).