Brocade FastIron Ethernet Switch Stacking Configuration Guide - Manual (Page 124)

Mixed stacking devices
A mixed stack contains ICX 6610 devices and ICX 6450 devices. ICX 6610 devices form the backbone
of the mixed stack. ICX 6450 devices are peripheral units that connect to the backbone and to other
peripheral units.
A mixed stack can contain one or two ICX 6610 devices and one to six ICX 6450 devices. ICX 6610
devices have full Layer 2 and Layer 3 unicast and multicast capabilities. ICX 6450 devices support full
Layer 2 switching and basic Layer 3 routing capabilities.
In a mixed stack, all Layer 3 functions are performed by the ICX 6610 devices. Layer 3 traffic received
on ICX 6450 devices is redirected to the ICX 6610 devices.
Mixed stacking topologies
Linear and ring topologies are supported. For information about how to connect devices in a mixed
stack, including cabling, stacking ports, stacking trunks, trunking requirements, and supported
topologies, refer to the hardware installation guides:
• Brocade ICX 6610 Stackable Switch Hardware Installation Guide
• Brocade ICX 6430 and ICX 6450 Stackable Switches Hardware Installation Guide
Additional topology support for mixed stacking
Additional stacking topologies are available for mixed stacking, including a star topology, for the ICX
6610 and ICX 6450 devices.
Linear and ring topologies are also supported. The following restrictions apply to the topologies:
• Up to two ICX 6610 devices
• Up to six ICX 6450 devices
• Up to six logical peripheral links per ICX 6610 (either ports or trunks)
• Each ICX 6450 device can have only one connection with each ICX 6610 device
• Each ICX 6450 must be connected directly to an ICX 6610 device
Each ICX 6610 device can have up to eight 10 Gbps ports which can be used as a peripheral ports to
connect to ICX 6450 devices (four of them are available with PoD licensing). Two neighboring ports
can be trunked together to form a peripheral trunk, allowing each ICX 6610 device to have up to four
peripheral trunks. Although there can be up to 4-8 logical peripheral links (depending on the number of
peripheral trunks), only up to six peripheral ICX 6450 devices can be connected in a valid HyperEdge
topology.
Star topology for ICX 6610 and ICX 6450
A star topology provides a mesh-like connection between the backbone active controller device and
the peripheral devices. The following star topology comprises of two ICX 6610 devices in a ring
Mixed stacking devices
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