Catalyst GigaStack GBIC
- Updated:
- January 15, 2014
Chapter: Overview
Overview
The GigaStack GBIC (model WS-X3500-XL) adds port density and high-performance connectivity to supporting switches. When installed in a supporting switch, the GigaStack GBIC supports Gigabit connections in a cascaded stack or point-to-point configuration. The GigaStack GBIC autonegotiates the duplex setting of each port to maximize the bandwidth for your configuration.
Features
This section describes the GigaStack GBIC features:
•
Half-duplex stacking using only one GBIC slot for each switch
Stack up to nine switches to form an independent backbone that can be managed with a single IP address. This stack gives the appearance of a single large switch for network management purposes. For this kind of connectivity, see the "Example 1: Cascaded Stack Connection" section.
•Full-duplex connectivity between two switches
You can also form a point-to-point link between two switches. The GigaStack GBIC supports one full-duplex link (in a point-to-point configuration) or up to eight half-duplex links (in a stack configuration) to other Gigabit Ethernet devices. For this kind of connectivity, see the "Example 2: Point-to-Point Connection" section.
•Support for redundant loop configurations in a GigaStack GBIC stack
For more information, see the "Minimum IOS Release for Redundant Loop Configurations" section and the "Cascaded Stack Connections with a Redundant Link" section
•Support for IOS Release 12.0(5)XU or later for Catalyst 2900 XL and 3500 XL switches, support for Release 12.1(6)EA2 or later for Catalyst 2950 switches, and support for Release 12.1(4)EA1 or later for Catalyst 3550 multilayer switches
•Management through the Cisco IOS command-line interface (CLI) or the web-based Cluster Management Suite (CMS)
•Field-replaceable
GigaStack GBIC LEDs
Figure 1-1 shows the LED locations on the GigaStack GBIC, and Table 1-1 describes the LED colors and their meanings.
Figure 1-1 GigaStack GBIC LEDs and Ports
GBIC Module Slot LEDs
Figure 1-2 shows the GBIC module slot LED on the front of a supporting switch, and Figure 1-3 shows the GBIC LED location when the GigaStack GBIC is installed in the 1000BASE-X module.
Figure 1-2 GBIC Module Slot LED Location on a Switch
Figure 1-3 GBIC LED Location on a 1000BASE-X Module
Table 1-2 describes the switch and 1000BASE-X module GBIC slot LED colors and port status.
Cabling Guidelines
The GigaStack GBIC uses the following Cisco proprietary cables. See Figure 1-4 and Table 1-3 for more information.
The maximum distance for a GBIC-to-GBIC connection is 1 meter. The GigaStack GBIC requires Cisco proprietary signaling and cabling. For more information about cabling, see Appendix B, "Connectors and Cables."
Figure 1-4 GigaStack GBIC Cables
|
|
|
CAB-GS-50CM |
50 cm |
CAB-GS-1M |
1 m |
The 50-cm cable comes with the GigaStack GBIC. You can order additional cables.
Do not use standard IEEE 1394 cables with the GigaStack GBIC. You must use one of the Cisco proprietary cables (CAB-GS-50CM or CAB-GS-1M). If you use any other cable, you will not have connectivity.
Do not use the GigaStack GBIC with standard IEEE 1394 equipment. You might damage the equipment or lose data.
Switches Supporting the GBIC
Refer to the online GigaStack Gigabit Interface Converter Switch Compatibility Matrix listed with the GBIC documentation on www.cisco.com for the most current list of products supporting the GBIC.
Installing the GBIC in or connecting it to an unauthorized device might cause damage to the GBIC, the other device, or both.
Table 1-4 lists the switches and the module supporting the GigaStack GBIC.
Table 1-4
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
WS-X2931-XL |
1 1000BASE-X port1 |
|
|
Catalyst 2912MF XL |
12 100BASE-FX ports and 2 module slots |
Catalyst 2924M XL |
24 autosensing 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 module slots |
|
|
|
Catalyst 2950G-12-EI |
12 autosensing 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots |
Catalyst 2950G-24-EI |
24 autosensing 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots |
|
Catalyst 2950G-24-EI-DC |
24 autosensing 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots with DC-input power |
|
Catalyst 2950G-48-EI |
48 autosensing 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots |
|
|
|
Catalyst 3508G XL |
8 GBIC module slots |
Catalyst 3512 XL |
12 autosensing 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots |
|
Catalyst 3524 XL |
24 autosensing 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots |
|
Catalyst 3524 PWR XL |
24 autosensing 10/100 inline-power Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots |
|
Catalyst 3548 XL |
48 autosensing 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots |
|
|
|
Catalyst 3550-12G |
2 autosensing 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports and 10 GBIC module slots |
Catalyst 3550-12T |
10 autosensing 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots |
|
Catalyst 3550-24-SMI |
24 autosensing 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots |
|
Catalyst 3550-48-SMI |
48 autosensing 10/100 Ethernet ports and 2 GBIC module slots |
1 The 1000BASE-X module provides one switched 1000-Mbps port in half-duplex, full-duplex, or autonegotiation mode for a GigaStack GBIC. The port supports the IEEE 802.3Z 1000BASE-X standard. |
Switches and Module Supporting the GigaStack GBIC
Minimum IOS Release for Redundant Loop Configurations
To ensure support for redundant loop configurations when using the GigaStack GBIC in a cascaded stack configuration, make sure that every switch in the stack is running at least the minimum IOS Release listed in Table 1-5.
Note All switches in a series must run the same software version. For example, if the stack includes only Catalyst 2900 series XL and 3500 series XL switches, they must run Release 12.0(5)XU or later. If the stack includes a mixture of Catalyst 2900 series XL, 3500 series XL, 2950, and 3550 switches, all the 2900 XL and 3500 XL switches must run Release 12.0(5)XW or later, all the Catalyst 2950 switches must run Release 12.1(6)EA2 or later, and all the Catalyst 3550 switches must run Release 12.1(4)EA1 or later.
For more information, see the "Cascaded Stack Connections with a Redundant Link" section. For switch software upgrade information, refer to the release notes for your switch.
Deployment Examples
This section contains examples that use the GigaStack GBIC as a Gigabit uplink to aggregate traffic in a switched and shared network.
Example 1: Cascaded Stack Connection
Figure 1-5 shows the GigaStack GBIC cascaded in a half-duplex stack configuration.
Figure 1-5 Cascaded Stack Connection
Example 2: Point-to-Point Connection
Figure 1-6 shows the 3500 XL switch aggregating traffic by using a GigaStack GBIC as a full-duplex, point-to-point uplink connection.
Figure 1-6 Point-to-Point Connection
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