SANbox 5600 Series Stacking

rberd · Been around the blocks Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 22

Looking for some general guidance when stacking two Qlogic SANbox 5600 series fibre switches for an existing Xsan setup. San has been up and running for over a year with no issues... just adding more clients. Is there anything specific that I need to look out for? Do the stacking ports auto configure correctly, or are there any settings that should be adjusted? Additionally, I read that the nicknames of both switches should match... is this correct? Any insights are greatly appreciated!

nrausch · Xsan Master Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 202

Heed the following advice:

- Check that both switches have the same firmware.
- Verify that both switches have all ports licensed. (So the stacking ports are licensed.)

Other than that it's pretty much plug and play. Stacking ports will auto configure just fine.

rberd · Been around the blocks Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 22

Thanks for your reply nrausch! Yes I did verify that both switches have the same firmware version, and many dollars later they are fully licensed with all ports enabled. When I log into the first switch via a web browser I new see both switches listed in the panel on the left, so they appear to be talking to one another. The only thing I am noticing is that there is a small yellow icon at the top of that panel that says the nicknames differ. Do I need to set both nicknames to be the same? This would seem to defeat the point of nicknames... as shouldn't you be able to differentiate between devices?

Again thank you for any insights!

sf809 · Been around the blocks Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 27

You don't need to buy a full licensed Switch for Stacking. You can move licensed Ports with the Enterprice Fabric Suite to the Stacking-Ports.
There is a 30 Day Trail.

Regards
Seb.

nrausch · Xsan Master Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 202

The nicknames usually correspond to the nicknames for nodenames or devices on the switch/ fabric, not the switches themselves. If you go into the first switch, and go to Menu/Fabric/Nicknames and edit a nickname for any device/port, it should ask you to save and apply. This will propagate the nicknames database to all switches.

Was one of these a used switch?

Let us know if that clears the alert message.

lucasnap · Xsan Master Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 107

don't forget the domain numbers. Every switch has a domain number (under switch settings). Default is zero. This should be unique (especially if you use hard zoning) so before you hook up the switches change the new switch to a new domain number (one for example).

Moe · Xsan Master Joined: 04 May 2006 Posts: 61