Cisco 2960x Flex Stack Plus switches expansion project

swmacpat · ‎07-26-2017

Dear Cisco Support Community,

We have provisioned Two 2960x Cisco Switches and linked up with a FlexStack Plus cables/modules. All connected devices (e.g. Windows Servers) has two UTPs connecting to the switches, one to switch A and another one to switch B. The switches are implementing Channel Group using LACP where port from Switch A and Port from Switch B are belongs to the same Channel Group for network resilience purpose. Also, we have created TWO VLAN on the switches where each VLAN span across the two switches some network device are belong to VLAN 1 and some are VLAN 2. This is a floor level implementation and we have an uplink router (Core Router / Switch) to route packet between VLANs.

We are planning to add more devices and we are running out of switch ports. Our expansion planning are as follows:

Option 1) Add another two network switches (i.e. 2960x) to the FlexStack cluster and create additional channel groups with switch port from Switch C and Switch D. So that the new devices can connecting to the new Switch C & D while still maintaining the resilience requirement as well as able to communication with the original devices connecting to switch A & B.

Option 2) Option 1 is only feasible if we have enough room to accommodate another two switches on the same rack. If however, we need to put the new two switches on another rack with is around 10-20 meters away still connecting themselves with FlexStack Plus, we are planning to purchase a 10G SFP+ module on the switches and link up Switches A/B and Switch C/D. Then configured "Trunk Ports" to connect those switches together where the "Trunk Port" can carry packet from both VLANs.

Option 3) Connect the two flexstack cluster (ie. Swithes A/B and Switches C/D) using EtherChannel.

Our question is whether Option 1) and Option 2) are the recommended implementation for stacking the switches together or shall we use other implementation method like option 3 ? Other suggestions are mostly welcome.

Thank you for your advice and recommendation in advance.

Regards
Patrick

Reza Sharifi · ‎07-26-2017

Hi,

The 2960x switches are each 1RU, so if you can find 2RU in the existing cabinet and add 2 more switches to the existing stack, that is the easiest and best solution.

HTH

Fandi Setiawan · ‎07-26-2017

Hi Patrick,

Maybe you can add some information like :

- How much port will you add ?

- What Product number use now ? (24 or 48 port)

- How much space U left on your cabinet ?

The solution will depend on your situation above, easiest way like Reza says, add more same type switch into existing stack, but don't forget if price per port of cisco product is more cheaper if we buy it with more port.

Regards,

F