Brocade FastIron Ethernet Switch Stacking Configuration Guide - Manual (Page 126)

Mixed stacking terms TABLE 20
Term Definition
Active controller ICX 6610 device.
Backbone or core Topology formed by ICX 6610 devices.
Backbone or core unit ICX 6610 device.
Peripheral port or trunk (peri-port
or peri-trunk) On ICX 6610 devices only, used to link to a stacking port or trunk of an ICX
6450 device.
Peripheral unit ICX 6450 device.
Stacking port or trunk Used to link:
• ICX 6610 devices to each other
• ICX 6450 devices to each other
• ICX 6450 device to a peripheral port or peripheral trunk of an ICX 6610
device.
Standby controller ICX 6610 device.
Substack Topology formed by ICX 6450 devices. If ICX 6450 devices are separated by
an ICX 6610 device, the ICX 6450 devices belong to different substacks.
Mixed stacking software image requirements
• All devices in a mixed stack must run router software images.
• All devices in a mixed stack must run the same version of the software image.
The stack cannot form if the software images are different major versions, such as 07.4.00 and
08.00.0a. Stacking communication is blocked.
A stack member is not operational if it runs a different minor version than other stack members, such
as 08.00.0a and 08.00.1. Stacking communication is possible so that the image mismatch can be
fixed.
Mixed stacking configuration prerequisites
The following prerequisites apply to all configuration methods. Before configuring and forming a mixed
stack:
• Load a software image on each device.
• Load a software license on each ICX 6610 device.
• Purchase and load the ICX6610-10G-LIC-POD license for each ICX 6610 SFP+ port that
connects to an ICX 6450 device.
• If you use ICX 6450 ports 2 and 4 as stacking ports, purchase and load the ICX6450-2X10G-LIC-
POD license.
• Physically connect the devices using stacking cables.
Mixed stacking software image requirements
124 FastIron Ethernet Switch Stacking Configuration Guide
53-1003090-02