System Mode and Stack Management

To configure the stack:

1. Click Administration > System Mode and Stack Management.

The operational status of a standalone device or a stack is displayed in the Operational Status block:

• Stack Unit Mode—Displays one of the following values for the device:
• Standalone—Device is not part of a stack.
• Native Stacking—Device is part of a stack in which all of the units are either SG500Xs or Sx500Xs.
• Basic Hybrid—Device is part of a stack that can consist of both SG500X and Sx500 devices with the Sx500 feature set.
• Advanced Hybrid—Device is part of a stack that can consist of both SG500X and Sx500 devices with the SG500X feature set.
• Stack Topology—Displays which topology is in use with the stack, Chain or Ring.
• System Mode—Displays whether the stack/standalone devices are operating in Layer 2 or Layer 3 System mode. For SG500X devices in Standalone or Native Stacking mode, this always displays that the device is operating in Layer 3 mode. In the hybrid stacking modes, the SG500X can also be in both Layer 2 or Layer 3 mode.
• Stack Master—Displays the unit ID of the master unit of the stack.
• Master Election Status—Displays how the stack master unit was selected. See Master Selection Process.
2. (For Sx500 devices only) To configure the System mode after reboot, select either Layer 2 or Layer 3 mode. SG500X devices are always in Layer 3 mode.
3. To configure the Queues Mode after reboot, select whether to configure 4 or 8 QoS queues on the device. See Configuring QoS Queues.
4. Configure the units in a stack in the Stack Administrative Settings Table. These changes become effective after reboot.

NOTE     If the device is an Sx500 and if the Stack Unit mode is changed from Native Stacking to Standalone, the device will be in Layer 2 System mode after reboot, unless you change the System Mode field to Layer 3 at this time.

The following operational status of every unit in a stack is displayed in the table.

• Stack Unit Number—Displays the unit ID of a known and active unit.
• Model Name—Model name of a known and active unit.
• Stack Connection 1—Information for the first stack connection:
• Port—The type of the stack port that is connected.
• Speed—The speed of the stack port that is connected.
• Neighbor—Unit ID of the connected stack unit.
• Stack Connection 2—Information for the second stack connection:
• Port—The type of the stack port that is connected.
• Speed—The speed of the stack port that is connected.
• Neighbor—Unit ID of the connected stack unit.

The configurable parameters for the units in a stack are as follows (applicable after reboot):

• Stack Unit Mode—Select the Stack Unit mode of the unit after reboot (see the possible values in the Stack Unit mode field above).
• Stack Unit Number—The unit ID of the unit after reboot. The following options are available:
• Auto—The unit ID of the unit is automatically assigned by the master of the stack.
• 1 - 8—The unit ID of the unit is manually assigned to either 1, 2, 3 .. 8.
• 1 — Force Master—The unit ID of the unit is manually assigned to 1 and the unit is forced to take on the master role after reboot.
• 2 — Force Master—The unit ID of the unit is manually assigned to 2 and the unit is forced to take on the master role after reboot.
5. Stack Ports—The pair of ports being reserved to link units in the stack, if the unit is to remain in one of the stacking modes after reboot.
6. Stack Ports Speed—The speed of the network ports for connecting to neighbor units in the stack after reboot.
7. Click Apply and Reboot to reboot the device with the new settings.