Updgrading IOS within a 2960S stack

[cbeswick]

Hi,

Does anyone know if Cisco intend to support stack operation for minor version mismatches within a 2960S stack in the near future ?

Currently if you have 2 or more 2960S switches in a stack and you wish to upgrade the switches one at a time, when the "upgraded" switch comes online, it cannot join the stack, rendering any end hosts connected via Etherchannel split across the stack inoperable.

I can understand this happening for major IOS mismatches, but for minor version mismatches, it means that the resilience you are trying to build in cannot cater for software mainenance, only physcial issues such as power, or cabling faults.

Many thanks.

Chris.

[Amit Singh]

Chris,

I dont know the exact plans when this will be supported or not. I havenot worked much with these new 2960's but looking at the IOS documentation, it seems like that when you have the minor version mismatch, the stack uses auto-upgrade feature to upgrade all the switches in the stack and make them compatible.

Did that feature work for you? I know there will be a disruption untill the switch gets upgraded and get back to the switch stack. But it should work for you and you should try upgrading the IOS on mater switch in off peak hours, just as a workaround.

Look at the managing 2960 switch stacks :

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960/software/release/12.2_55_se/configuration/guide/swstack.html#wp1166403

Cheers,

-as

[cbeswick]

Unfortunately the auto upgrade feature doesn't help. What I want to be able to do is have the ability to upgrade the stack with zero downtime, in pretty much the same way the Cisco ASA failover works. That is, reload one switch in the stack to perform IOS upgrade confirm connections and etherchannels are all operational, then reload the other switch in the stack. All end hosts connected via Etherchannels spread across the stack will always have one working connection.

I cannot understand why Cisco didn't allow this to work, it defeats the purpose of using the switch stack and cross switch Etherchannels.

[arunas.usonis]

Guys,

Sorry for not directly related question but as you using 2960s I thought maybe you can answer my question - if I have 2960s LAN Base stack 2x2960-48 what are the names of the interfaces ? Are those like gig1/0/1-1/0/50   + gig2/0/1-2/0/50 ? Have to write config upfront and want to be sure in naming..

Many Thanks

Arun

[cbeswick]

Hi Arun,

Yes you are correct. The SFP interfaces are gig1/0/49 - 52 or gig2/0/49 - 52.