Switch stacking - recommended hardware layout?

[bryandolan]

We are a distributed company with a number of sites. I am in the process of redesigning the majority of the comms racks for each site and had a specific question around hardware layout. For info, the majority of edge switches in use are Catalyst 2960S.

My preferred method is to install the switches between the patch panels and use short patch leads (25cm) to connect between. The switches are stacked with appropriate cables at the rear. This obviously makes it much easier to trace cables and I personally feel it looks way better.

Example:

---24 Port Panel---

---Blank---

---48 Port Switch---

---Blank---

---24 Port Panel---

However, others in the IT team say that Cisco's recommended layout is to group all stacked switches together and patch out from there.

I am hoping for a definitive response from a Cisco tech, as well as feedback from others in the group.

Thanks

[Reza Sharifi]

Its all matter of preference.  Either solution will work fine. If you have enough space in the rack and the stacking cables will reach from the top switch to the bottom you can leave a blank space between them.  As far as I know, there is no recommendation from Cisco in this regard. If you leave space between the switches, its defiantly easier to plug and unplug cables from the ports.  As matter of fact I do the same with chassis if the chassis is not full.

HTH

[devils_advocate]

As long as they are stacked as per the Cisco guide in regards to the stack cables at the rear, it makes little difference where they are physically and how you patch them.

Do whatever suits you best.