Problem with stacking switched (less experienced user)

[jwenta]

Hello,

That is the first time I try to stack switches just like they do in Cisco video.
I have 3 switches CBS350-48T-4X

After setting all 3 switches to different IPs I do:
1. Insert Cisco MGBT1 into XG1 and XG2 ports in all 3 switches and plug LAN cable into port 1 of the first switch.
2. Connect SW1_XG1 to SW2_XG1 and SW2_XG2 to SW3_XG2 with RJ45 cables
3. Check if connections work (pluging laptop into SW1,2,3 one by one I have access to all 3 switches). Leds XG1,2 are blinking slowly, also have access to all 3 switched from LAN. So they work and can be used in my LAN but they're no stacked of course.
4. Configure XG1 and XG2 as Stacking ports in all 3 switches (Native, IDs 1,2,3 respectively)
5. Reboot
And there's no stack, LEDs XG1,2 are dark, co connections between switches, from LAN can only see the first one. XG1,2 ports are grayed and marked as stackable ports.

[M02@rt37]

Hello @jwenta,

do you follow also this official guideline? 

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/smb/switches/Cisco-Business-Switching/kmgmt2836-Stacking-Guidelines-for-CBS.html

[jwenta]

I believe, yes. Started from there. Though the drawings are not exactly describe my switch. Now I wonder - maybe important is the exact choice of XG ports? For example: XG1 in the first switch should be connected into XG2 in the second one instead of XG1?

[marce1000]

  - Check logs on all involved devices when trying to make the stack , also try to disable the auto smartport feature and check if that can help ,

 M.

[M02@rt37]

Ok @jwenta,

Same version on each CBS ?

[jwenta]

Yes, updated to 3.3.0.16. Checked.

[KJK99 · Accepted solution]

@jwenta 

I’ve checked the specs for Cisco MGBT1 and it looks like those inserts are not only RJ45 but also 1G. I would use RJ45 inserts only if that was my only option because of their relatively high latency. You have better options here, like DAC or fiber. Also, to my knowledge, those switches can be stacked only at 10G, which makes a perfect sense to me. Replacing your current connections with DAC or 10G fiber should resolve this stacking issue.

[M02@rt37]

Thanks for that feedback @KJK99.

[jwenta]

OK thanks, but it does not resolve the basic question - why it does not work with RJ45 though IMO it should work.

[KJK99]

@jwenta 

It would work if those connections were 10G. Actually, I have two CBS350 switches stacked using CAT6 cables, but my RJ45 ports are all 10G.