Changing stack Ports in 3 node stack (M4300) from SFP+ to RJ45 in production stack

[Agsy]

Hey guys, I have a question regarding changing the stack ports, on production switches in stack mode, with minimal impact.

Here's what we plan to to:

we are currently building a new server room across the corridor and are on the verge to migrating our servers and services to that new server room. We'd like to do the migration with no or only a very short downtime. Our main services run on a VMware-cluster, attached to 3 Netgear M4300-series switches, running in stack mode across direct attached cables. As our old and new server room are connected to each other via patch panel and network stack, we could switch stacking mode from DAC to RJ45 and have one M4300 in our old and one M4300 in our new server room, which would allow to migrate our VMware servers one by one with no major downtime.

This means changing the stack ports from DAC to RJ45 on all M4300 switches (which we did already). I've learned already, that we need to reboot all switches in order to activate the RJ45 stack ports.

Here's my first question: do we need to reboot all Switches at once or can we reboot one after another?

After that, our plan is to power down #2 and #3 and install them in our new server room, while #1 will remain active, keeping our services abailable. Then, we will connect #2 and #3 via RJ45 stacking cables to the active #1 switch and switch them back on.

Here's my second question: is this how it should be done or are we missing something?

Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

Cheers

Sascha

[Agsy · Accepted solution]

Hi JohnCarloV and thanks for your reply.

We were "brave" and rebooted the switches one by one, after configuring the new stack ports on all members. It worked perfectly, so no need to reboot all stack members at once.

Here's what we did (3 node Stack, all M4300 series)

1. Configure new Ethernet-Ports for stack mode on all member switches

2. save

3. power down member #3

4. connect #3 with #1 and #2 on newly configured stack ports

5. disconnect old stack cables from #1 and #2 to #3

6. power up #3

7 repeat 😉

Hope that helps.

Cheers
Sascha

[JohnC_V]

Hi Agsy,

Unfortunately, You may need to reboot all the switches at once in order to elect the Master switch on a stack. You may need to have at least 5 minutes downtime for this maintenance.

Regards,

[Agsy · Accepted solution]

Hi JohnCarloV and thanks for your reply.

We were "brave" and rebooted the switches one by one, after configuring the new stack ports on all members. It worked perfectly, so no need to reboot all stack members at once.

Here's what we did (3 node Stack, all M4300 series)

1. Configure new Ethernet-Ports for stack mode on all member switches

2. save

3. power down member #3

4. connect #3 with #1 and #2 on newly configured stack ports

5. disconnect old stack cables from #1 and #2 to #3

6. power up #3

7 repeat 😉

Hope that helps.

Cheers
Sascha