28 Assembling a Switch Stack
management if the Master Switch fails. For example: 
FTOS> enable
FTOS# configure
FTOS(conf)# stack-unit 0 priority 14
The no form of the stack-unit 
unit-number
 priority 
number 
command reverts the 
management priority of a stack unit to the default value of 0.
Managing a Stack
Master and Member Switches
You can manage a stack of MXL 10/40GbE Switches as a single entity when 
connected together. Manage the stack from the CLI through the serial 
console connection or a remote Telnet session over the OOB management IP 
address. 
When a stack is created, one switch automatically becomes the Master 
Switch and another switch is elected Standby Master. The Master Switch 
maintains stack operation with minimal impact in the event of:
•Switch failure
• Inter-switch stacking link failure
• Switch insertion
• Switch removal
If the Master Switch goes off line, the Standby Master replaces it as the new 
master and the switch with the next highest MAC address or priority becomes 
Standby Master. 
Stack Startup
Topology Discovery
When a stack is formed, a topology discovery process builds up a database 
that contains information about all of the switches in the stack, including the 
FTOS version, hardware version, management priority, and switch MAC 
address. Use the CLI (show system command) to view this information.