Cabletron Systems SmartStack STS-8SU Installation and User Manual

Brand: Cabletron Systems

Model: SmartStack STS-8SU

Type: Installation and User Manual

This manual is also suitable for

SmartStack

STS-8SU External Stacker Unit

STS-SM Switch Matrix

Installation

and

User Guide

Notice

Cabletron Systems reserves the right to make changes in specifications and other

information contained in this document without prior notice. The reader should in all

cases consult Cabletron Systems to determine whether any such changes have been made.

The hardware, firmware, or software described in this manual is subject to change

without notice.

IN NO EVENT SHALL CABLETRON SYSTEMS BE LIABLE FOR ANY

INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES

WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST PROFITS) ARISING

OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS MANUAL OR THE INFORMATION CONTAINED

IN IT, EVEN IF CABLETRON SYSTEMS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF, KNOWN, OR

SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Cabletron Systems, Inc.

35 Industrial Way

Rochester, NH 03867

Order Number: 9032968-01

(OC-7060 v. 1.1, 710001814)

SmartStack

is a trademark of Cabletron Systems, Inc.

CompuServe

is a registered trademark of CompuServe, Inc.

i960 microprocessor

is a registered trademark of Intel Corp.

Ethernet

is a trademark of Xerox Corporation.

Notice

FCC Notice

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following

two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device

must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired

operation.

NOTE:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A

digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide

reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a

commercial environment. This equipment uses, generates, and can radiate radio

frequency energy and if not installed in accordance with the operator’s manual, may

cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a

residential area is likely to cause interference in which case the user will be required to

correct the interference at his own expense.

WARNING:

Changes or modifications made to this device which are not expressly

approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to

operate the equipment.

VCCI Notice

This is a Class A product based on the standard of the Voluntary Control Council for

Interference by Information Technology Equipment (VCCI). If this equipment is used in

a domestic environment, radio disturbance may arise. When such trouble occurs, the user

may be required to take corrective actions.

Industry Canada Notice

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emissions from

digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian

Department of Communications.

Le présent appareil numérique n'émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites

applicables aux appareils numériques de la class A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le

brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le ministère des Communications du Canada.

iii

Notice

Declaration of Conformity

Addendum

Application of Council Directive(s):

89/336/EEC

73/23/EEC

Manufacturer’s Name:

Cabletron Systems, Inc.

Manufacturer’s Address:

35 Industrial Way

PO Box 5005

Rochester, NH 03867

European Representative Name:

Mr. J. Solari

European Representative Address:

Cabletron Systems Limited

Nexus House,

Newbury Business Park

London Road, Newbury

Berkshire RG13 2PZ, England

Conformance to Directive(s)/Product Standards:

EC Directive 89/336/EEC

EC Directive 73/23/EEC

EN 55022

EN 50082-1

EN 60950

Equipment Type/Environment:

Networking Equipment, for use

in a Commercial or Light

Industrial Environment.

We the undersigned, hereby declare, under our sole responsibility, that the equipment

packaged with this notice conforms to the above directives.

Manufacturer Legal Representative in Europe

Mr. Ronald Fotino

Mr. J. Solari

Full Name Full Name

Principal Compliance Engineer

Managing Director - E.M.E.A.

Title Title

Rochester, NH, USA

Newbury, Berkshire, England

Location Location

Notice

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide

Table of Contents

1. Overview and Specifications 1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

SmartStack STS-SM Switch Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Features and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2. Switch Stacker Theory of Operation 5

Switch Stacker: A Unique Concept. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Stack Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Creating a Switch Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker Unit Description . . . . . . . . 7

Forming a Multi-Unit Switch Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Inter-box Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Provider of Inter-box Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3. Preparing for Installation 13

Safety Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Safety with Electricity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage. . . . . . . . . 14

Site Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Chassis Accessibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Cooling and Airflow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

4. Installation 19

Mounting the Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Rack or Cabinet Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Table-Mounting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Cabling a Stack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Connecting Switches to the Switch Stacker . . . . . . . . . 22

Checking the Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Applying Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

STS-8SU External Stacker Unit Control Panels . . . . . . . . . 27

Front Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

STS-8SU External Stacker Unit Chassis Description . . . . 28

STS-SM Switch Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide

SmartStack STS-SM Switch Matrix Unit Installation. . . . . . 29

STS-SM Switch Matrix Unit Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Automatic Switch-Over from a SmartStack STS16-20RM. . . 31

Manual Switch-Overs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Switch-Over Impact on Traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Installing a SmartStack STS-LM Link Module . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Installing the STS-LM Link Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

SmartStack STS-LM Link Module Module Cables. . . . . . . 34

5. Accessing Switch Management 35

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Connecting the Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Communication Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Diagnostic Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

6. Switch Configuration 41

General Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Navigating within the Menus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Main Menu Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Configuration... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Statistics... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Download/Upload... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Reset... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Exit Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Configuration Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Switch Configuration Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Stack Configuration Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

7. Getting in Touch With Technical Support 51

Problem Report Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Appendix A. Abbreviations 55

vii

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide

List of Figures

Figure 1. Front View of the SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker . . . . . . 1

Figure 2. Exposing the Rack Mounting Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Figure 3. Mounting the Switch Stacker in a Rack or Cabinet . . . . . 21

Figure 4. Connecting the Stack Port Cable to Port 1

on the Switch Stacker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Figure 5. Connecting the Stack Port Cable to the Stack Link

Module on a Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Figure 6. Back View of the Switch Stacker Cabled to Eight Switches . 24

Figure 7. The AC Connector for the Primary Power Supply Unit

is on the Right of the STS-8SU Stacker unit Back Panel . . 25

Figure 8. The AC Connector is in the Middle of the SmartStack

Token Ring Switch Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Figure 9. View of the STS-8SU Stacker Unit Chassis with a

SmartStack STS-SM Switch Matrix Module

in the Left (primary) Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Figure 10. Inserting a Secondary Module into the

STS-8SU Stacker unit Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Figure 11. Inserting an SmartStack STS-LM Link Module . . . . . . . 33

Figure 12. View of the Management Console Connection . . . . . . . 36

viii

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide

List of Tables

Table 1. SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker Unit Specifications . . . . . . 4

Table 2. Front Panel Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Table 3. Front Panel LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Table 4. Back Panel Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Table 5. Back Panel LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Table 6. Default Console Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . 37

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Overview and Specifications

1. Overview and Specifications

This chapter provides an overview of the SmartStack STS-8SU External Stacker

Unit and related Cabletron equipment. You will also find a list of specifications for

the STS-8SU External Stacker Unit.

Overview

To take full advantage of the network switching architecture, the switched network

must be scalable. In a scalable network you can increase the number of switch ports

on demand. Moreover, each switch must be extendable through the backplane in

order to maintain the high aggregate bandwidth between all switch ports. Switches

meeting these demands are

stackable

switches.

The stackable network equipment in the Cabletron product family provides the

basis for flexible and scalable network solutions. The Cabletron products include

equipment for stacking two to eight switches, as well as a wide range of expansion

modules that provide extra ports or attachments to existing networking equipment.

This guide describes how to install and use the STS-8SU External Stacker Unit, a

dedicated switch stacker unit that allows you to connect up to eight switches. Also

described is the SmartStack STS-SM Switch Matrix, that can be installed in the

STS-8SU Stacker to providing increased network reliability.

Figure 1. Front View of the SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Overview and Specifications

SmartStack STS-SM Switch Matrix

The standard configuration of the STS-8SU External Stacker Unit consists of the

STS-8SU chassis itself and one SmartStack STS-SM switch matrix.

The SmartStack STS-SM Switch Matrix includes a fan, power supply, control

LEDs, and complete logic circuitry. The SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker needs only

one SmartStack STS-SM to operate, but has another slot available for a second unit.

If two units are used, the SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker runs with an online

(primary) unit installed in the left slot and an offline (secondary) unit installed in

the right slot. If the primary unit should fail, operation is switched to the secondary

unit by automatic logic control. The units can be also be switched manually using

the ACTIVATE push button on the front panel.

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Overview and Specifications

Features and Specifications

This section lists the features and specifications for the STS-8SU External Stacker

Unit.

Features

The SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker has the following features:

•

Eight I/O stack ports using 50-pin SCSI-2 type connectors (one per port)

•

280 Mbps per port (full-duplex)

•

1.12 Gbps total capacity

•

The ability to route packets between switches

•

Round-robin output port arbitration

•

Each port operates independently and in parallel (except for multicast)

•

Replicates multicast packets

•

No processor. Managed by the attached CrossFire 8600 Series Switches or

CrossFire 8730 Switches.

•

Optional redundant hot-swappable units

•

Front access to field-replaceable units

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Overview and Specifications

Specifications

See the following table for the SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker specification.

❏

Specification Value

Rack mount 19 in. rack mount (hardware included) 2 U

Dimensions Width: 43 cm (17”)

Rack mounted width: 48.4 cm (19”)

Depth: 40 cm (15.74”)

Height: 8.76 cm (3.45”)

Power 100 to 240 VAC autosensing.

Frequency 50 to 60 Hz

AC current rating 1.3 A @ 100 VAC; 0.6 A @ 240 VAC

Operating Temperature

Non-operating Temperature

10 to 40°C (50 to 104°F)

–10 to 70°C (13 to 158°F)

Operating Humidity

Non-operating Humidity

8 to 80% (noncondensing)

8 to 95% (noncondensing)

Electromagnetic compatibility

immunity

EN 50082-1

EN 61000-3-2

EN 61000-3-3

Electromagnetic compatibility

emission

FCC part 15, subpart B, Class A

EN55022 Class A

CISPR 22 Class A

Safety IEC 950

UL1950

CSA C22.2 No. 950

EN60950

Table 1. SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker Unit Specifications

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Switch Stacker Theory of Operation

2. Switch Stacker Theory of Operation

This chapter explains how SmartStack Switch Stacker equipment improves

network performance.

Switch Stacker: A Unique Concept

Any of the Token Ring switches can be stacked together. The switches in the stack

combine to form a single unit. You can stack two to eight switches and manage

them as a single entity. All of the switches in the stack must, however, run the same

switch software version.

There are two ways of configuring the switch—as a single stand-alone unit or as a

logical combination of up to eight units. This logical combination of units is called

switch stack

A switch stack can be created in three different ways. The simplest configuration is

a back-to-back stack, in which two switches are connected directly using the

SmartStack STS-LM Link Module and a stacker link cable.

You can also connect up to five switches by using the SmartStack STS-5SU

Internal Stacker Module. You install this module in one of the switches in the stack,

and then you connect the other switches to it using the SmartStack STS-LM Link

Module and cables.

A stack can also consist of up to eight switches, connected by the SmartStack STS-

8SU Stacker Unit. In this case, you connect each switch in the stack to the switch

stacker using SmartStack STS-LM Link Module and cables.

When a switch is turned on, it runs a set of self-test diagnostics. After the

diagnostics, the switch runs a

stack discovery mode

. The discovery mode is used to

sense if the switch is cabled to other switches or to the SmartStack STS-8SU

Stacker Unit. If the switch discovers other switches, a stack is formed

automatically. If no other switches are detected during the stack discovery mode,

the switch starts operating as a stand-alone unit.

You will not need any special tools, extra software, or expensive equipment to form

a stack of switches. See Chapter 4, “Installation” for details on how to connect the

stack equipment.

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Switch Stacker Theory of Operation

Stack Features

•

Single image management for the entire stack (less devices to manage)

•

Management applications represent the stack as a single device

— Simple GUI management

•

Single SNMP image for the entire stack

— Easier to customize SNMP applications

•

Distributed intelligence between the units of the stack

— Shared learning

— Shared management information

•

Hot-swapping of stack units

— If a unit should fail, the other units continue operating as a stack.

— Switches form or reform into the stack.

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Switch Stacker Theory of Operation

Creating a Switch Stack

You can create a stack of up to eight switches using the SmartStack STS-8SU

Stacker Unit. The following sections describe how this stack is formed.

SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker Unit Description

The STS-8SU Stacker unit is an eight-port switch matrix interface, that can connect

up to eight SmartStack Token Ring switches. Each SmartStack Token Ring switch

will discover whether it is connected to a switch stacker unit and whether there are

other SmartStack Token Ring switches connected to the switch stacker. The

connected switches and the switch stacker unit will combine logically to form a

stack.

The stacker itself, as well as any of the stacked switches, can be either on or off

when you connect or disconnect a switch in the stack. A proprietary shielded cable,

one meter in length, with 50-pin SCSI-2 type connectors is used to connect the

stacker equipment. The cable has

crossover

wiring—either end can connect to the

switch stacker or to the SmartStack Token Ring switches. The cable is plugged

directly into a stack port I/O connector on the back of the STS-8SU External

Stacker Unit. The other end is plugged into the SmartStack STS-LM Link Module

interface card that is installed in the expansion slot on the back panel of the switch.

For a description of the features and physical specifications of the STS-8SU

External Stacker Unit, see Chapter 1, “Overview and Specifications”. For details

on the installation of the STS-8SU External Stacker Unit, see Chapter 4,

“Installation”.

Forming a Multi-Unit Switch Stack

When you turn on the switches, they run a set of self-diagnostics. After the

diagnostics, the switches run a stack discovery mode. During this mode, if two or

more switches are connected to a SmartStack STS-8SU Stacker Unit, the switches

will sense the connection and combine logically to create a stack configuration.

As soon as stack discovery mode has finished, two things happen:

1. Each switch is assigned a

box number

The box number is determined by the port number on the switch stacker. For

example, the switch that is plugged into port 3 on the SmartStack STS-8SU

Stacker Unit receives the box number 3. The box number remains the same for

the switch as long as it is plugged into the same port. If a switch is connected to

another port, the box number for that switch will change to correspond to the

new port number.

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Switch Stacker Theory of Operation

2. All of the switches in the stack are set to

some configuration information.

The parameters that must share values on all of the switches in the stack are the

inter-box parameters

(listed on page 9). One of the boxes in the stack is

assigned as the source or

provider

of these shared parameters. The provider

switch is selected as follows:

•

If all of the switches in the stack have the same configuration information

(the switches use only default values or have been configured to use the

same values), the switch that is plugged into the

lowest numbered port

the stacker is selected as the provider of the inter-box parameters.

•

If the switches in the stack have different settings for the inter-box

parameters, the configuration must be changed so that the settings are the

same on all of the switches. To do this, you have to select which of the

switches in the stack should provide the inter-box parameters for the entire

stack. See “Provider of Inter-box Parameters” on page 11 for information on

how to do this.

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Switch Stacker Theory of Operation

Inter-box Parameters

When a stack is formed, some configuration information of the different switches

in the stack must start using the same settings. These settings are the inter-box

parameters. The stack operates as a single entity when all of the switches in it use

the same inter-box parameters.

The following is a list of the inter-box parameters. These parameters are accessed

from the console configuration menus and screens. The screens and menus are

described in the user documentation supplied with the SmartStack Token Ring

switches.

•

Switch Configuration

screen

— System Name

— System Location

—System Contact

•

VLAN Parameter Configuration for BRF

screen

— VLAN Name

— State

—MTU

— Bridge Number

— 802.1Q VLAN ID

— LAA VLAN MAC Address

•

VLAN Parameter Configuration for CRF

screen

— VLAN Name

— Parent VLAN

— State

—Ring Number

—Bridging Mode

— Max ARE Bridge Hop Count

— Max STE Bridge Hop Count

— TS Connection

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Switch Stacker Theory of Operation

•

IP Configuration

screen

— IP Address

—Default Gateway

— Subnet Mask

—IP State

•

SNMP Configuration

screen

— All parameters on this screen.

•

Spanning Tree for BRF

screen

— All parameters on this screen.

•

Spanning Tree for CRF

screen

— All parameters on this screen.

•

Password

— All parameters on this menu.

•

Console Configuration

— All parameters on this menu.

•

Syslog Daemon

screen

— All parameters on this screen.

SmartStack STS-8SU & STS-SM Installation and User Guide Switch Stacker Theory of Operation

Provider of Inter-box Parameters

In order for a stack to operate as a single entity, the stack must use a set of inter-box

parameters. If all of the switches in the stack contain the same configuration

information, the switch that has the lowest box number (is plugged into the lowest-

numbered stacker link port on the STS-8SU External Stacker Unit) becomes the

provider of the inter-box parameters. If the parameters are different in any of the

switches trying to form the stack, the provider of inter-box parameters is

determined as described below:

•

If you connected switches before you turned them of, a message will be

displayed on the console screen as the stack tries to form. At this point, because

there will be different configuration information in at least two of the boxes, a

temporary split-stack (two logical stacks) is formed. The units stay in a split-

stack configuration until the warning message is cleared.

The message is as follows:

WARNING: The units trying to form a Stack have different

configurations. Please select a unit as the Stack's

configuration provider by briefly pushing the SysReq (System

Request) button on that unit. (This feature gives you the

option of selecting which unit you want to use as a base for

the Stack parameters).

Once the system request button is pushed on one of the switches, that unit

becomes the stack provider and the other switches will replace their stack

related configuration parameters with the parameters of the provider. Note that

the system request button is unlabeled.

•

The following applies to a back-to-back stack, consisting of two switches that

each has a SmartStack STS-LM Link Module installed:

If you turn on two switches in a back-to-back stack before you connect them,

they will continue to perform their stand-alone internal switching functions.

While the normal internal switching functions are still operating, a split-stack

will be formed. Once the split-stack is formed, the console displays the

warning message requiring a system request. Pushing the system request

button on one of the switches will give the stack the inter-box parameters of

that switch and allow the stack forming to continue.

•

If you add switches to an existing stack, the inter-box parameters in the

existing stack will be used.

❏

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