Roles Within the Stack Managing OmniSwitch 6450 Stacks
page 7-8 OmniSwitch 6450 Hardware Users Guide September 2015
Using Saved Slot Information
The saved slot number is the slot number the switch will assume following a reboot. This information is 
stored in a switch’s boot.slot.cfg file; the switch reads its slot number assignment from this file at bootup 
and assumes the specified slot number within the stack.
If switches in a stacked configuration have no preconfigured slot assignments, the slot number for each 
switch is dynamically assigned by the system software. Slot numbers can also be manually assigned by the 
user. For more information on manually assigning slot numbers, refer to “Manual Slot Number Assign-
ment” on page 7-23.
When a stack with preconfigured slot information is booted, it is not the lowest MAC address that deter-
mines the primary management module. Instead, the slot information stored in each switch’s boot.slot.cfg 
is read by the system software and used in determining the primary. The switch with the lowest saved slot 
number becomes the primary management module. 
Note. Although, for ease-of-management purposes, it is recommended that slot numbers are assigned 
beginning with slot number 1, it is not a requirement. In other words, a stack of four switches can have slot 
assignments 3, 4, 5, and 6. However, it is important that each element in a stack is assigned a unique slot 
number. Do not assign duplicate slot numbers to elements in a stack. Otherwise, one or more switches will 
be forced into pass-through mode. For more information on pass-through mode, refer to page 7-13.
For more information on using saved slot information to determine the primary switch in a stack, refer to 
the diagram below:
Primary Management Module Selection Using Saved Slot Information
Slot 6
Slot 5
Slot 4
Primary: Slot 3
Assumes Slot 6
Assumes Slot 5
Assumes Slot 4
Assumes Slot 3
Saved Slot 6
Four OmniSwitch 6450 switches are stacked; all 
switches are connected via stacking cables. The user 
configures each switch to have a unique saved slot 
number. When each saved slot number is configured, 
the information is automatically 
written to the boot.slot.cfg file located in the /flash 
directory of each switch. 
The user reloads all the elements in the stack 
either by issuing the reload all command or by 
physically powering off and then powering on all 
switches.
Instead of assigning the primary management 
module based on the lowest MAC address, the 
system software reads the slot information from 
each switch’s boot.slot.cfg file during the boot 
process. The switches in the stack come up 
using their assigned slot numbers.
The switch with the lowest assigned slot number 
automatically assumes the primary management role. 
In this case, the switch assigned slot 3 has the lowest 
slot number in the stack and becomes the primary 
management module.
1
2
3
4
Saved Slot 5
Saved Slot 4
Saved Slot 3
Reload