Stacking | 553
Cabling Procedure
The following cabling procedure uses the stacking topology in Figure 31-1. Follow the same steps to cable 
switches in any of the stacking topologies shown in Supported Stacking Topologies. To connect the 
cabling, follow these steps:
1. Connect a 40GbE port on the first switch to a 40GbE port on the second switch.
2. Connect another 40GbE port on the second switch to a 40GbE port on the third switch.
3. Connect another 40GbE port on the third switch to a 40GbE port on the fourth switch.
4. Connect another 40GbE port on the fourth switch to a 40GbE port on the first switch.
The resulting ring topology allows the entire stack to function as a single switch with resilient fail-over 
capabilities. If you do not connect the last switch to the first switch (Step 4), the stack operates in a daisy 
chain topology with less resiliency. Any failure in a non-edge stack unit causes a split stack.
Accessing the CLI 
To configure a stack, you must access the stack master in one of the following ways:
• For remote out-of-band management (OOB), enter the OOB management interface IP address into a 
Telnet or secure shell (SSH) client and log in to the switch using the user ID and password to access 
the CLI. 
• For local management, use the attached console connection to the master switch to log in to the CLI. 
Console access to the stack CLI is available on the master only.
• For remote in-band management from a network management station, enter the virtual local area 
network (VLAN) IP address of the management port and log in to the switch to access the CLI. 
Configuring and Bringing Up a Stack
After you attach the 40G QSFP or direct attach cables in a stack of MXL 10/40GbE Switches, to bring up 
the stack, follow these steps.
 Note: The procedure uses command examples for the stacking topology in Figure 31-1. 
Step Task Command Syntax Command Mode
1 Set up a connection to the CLI on an MXL 10/40GbE Switch as described in Accessing the CLI.
2 Log on to the CLI and enter Global Configuration mode.
Login: username
Password: *****
FTOS> enable
FTOS# configure
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