In a switch stack, the port capacity is the combination of all the member switches and the bandwidth is also the sum of all switches. And the stackable switches are generally of the same model or at least belonging to the same manufacturer. Where it comes to switch stacking vs cascading, the most obvious difference is that only stackable switches can be stacked while almost all switches can be cascaded.
And different manufacturers may use different software for clustering. Only specific cluster-capable switches from the same manufacturer can be clustered. In a switch cluster, only one IP address is needed (on the command switch). One switch plays the role of cluster command switch, and other switches are cluster member switches, which are managed by the command switch. But it does not rule out the cases that two switches can not be cascaded.Ī switch cluster is a set of switches connected together, whether through common user port or special ports. Generally, switches of any models or from any manufacturers can be cascaded. Switches that are cascaded together should all support Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), in order to allow redundancy and to prevent loop. But they are configured and managed independently. It is like connecting 2 ports together on the same switch, which can cause loop.īy cascading more than one switch you can have multiple ports interconnecting each of your switches in the group. And it should be noted that, when the switches are stacked, there is no need to connect switches in the group via copper or fibre port besides the stacking ports, because the stack logically is one switch. Only stack switch is able to be stacked together. And all the switches in the stack share a single IP address for remote administration instead of each stack unit having its own IP address. For example, when you cascade two 24-port switches, you will get one large 48-port switch when it comes to configuration. The port density or the switch capacity of a stack is the sum of the combined switches. In such a scenario, switch stacking vs cascading seems to be much similar. There’s also virtual stacking, where switches are stacked via Ethernet ports rather than stack cable/module.
The group of switches forms a “stack”, and it requires a stack master. Switch stacking is a technology that combines two or more switches together at the backplane typically via a specialised physical cable (stack cable), so they work as a single switch. What Are Switch Stacking, Cascading and Clustering?
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