2920 (J9836A) and Netgear XS712T Stacking and other questions

[PRO325]

I have 2 2920 48 port switches, I want to stack them, any other options available to stack them besides using the stacking module? can the 10gb module be used for stacking? How fast is the link through the stacking module?

On to the next question, the 2920 will be running 2 vlans, data and voice (i have first switch configured and all functions)

I have a netgear xs712t switch as well, which is a 10gb on all ports. I'd like to use as "top of stack" switch and connect servers to it, assuming vlan routing would still function through the netgear xs712t. what options do I have to connect the stack to the xs712t besides using the 10gb module on one of the 2920?

Ideally I would buy 2 10gb modules for the 2920's, connect them via one of the 10gb ports and use the other 10gb port to connect to the netgear xs712t 10gb switch... I have 4 servers with dual 10gb cards in them and will be adding another soon, hence the desire to use the netgear switch.

Thanks in adavnce for your advice...

[Vince-Whirlwind]

Yes, you need the stacking module to stack the switches.

The stacking module provides 40Gb/s in each direction of the stack ring.

The 2920 stack can not include the Netgear switch.

Linking the 2920 stack with the Netgear should definitely be done using the 10Gb/s switchports.

[PRO325]

Vince-Whirlwind, thank you for the info... But do you think that the netgear xs712t connected via 10gb module to the 2920 stack would work and route vlan traffic properly?

My plan is to make connect default vlan devices to it only but do 'all think it would still route both default and voice vlan requests even if it is not a layer 3? All pc's and phones would be connected to the 2920 stak...

Just wondering if it is a worthy effort or if I'll be wasting time.

Thanks again

[Vince-Whirlwind]

I guess you are asking whether the Netgear 712 will do inter-VLAN routing.

Assuming it does, then you extend the relevant VLANs to the 2920 switchstack and the routing will get done on the Netgear.

If the Netgear won't do inter-VLAN routing then you can use the 2920 to do your inter-VLAN routing.

The main thing is to extend the VLANs correctly between the switches so that all the hosts on your network can reach via Layer-2 their default gateway, whichever switch that is on.