What to expect removing switches from stack

[JoshG]

I'm going to be removing three switches from a stack in ring topology, leaving three in the stack. I have the command to remove the switches from the stack, just curious as to what behavior to expect when I unstack these. Sorry for the noob question, but the guy that would normally be doing this left the company.

[JoshG]

As a note: Current topology is 6 Aruba 2930m in ring. I will be removing three and leaving three.

[parnassus]

Well, Aruba 2930M uses Backplane Stacking (Hardware Stacking Modules and related Stacking Cables)...that's just to say...the important thing to understand is what Stack Members are you going to remove? which roles they are running currently? Commander? Standby? normal members (neither Commander nor Standby)? to broke a stacking ring is not particularly impacting (excluded the impact on directly connected peers) BUT this is true IF removed members are just member switches with no particular role AND if the breaking point is just one (thus the three switches you plan to remove are connected each others with no other members in between) so what was a ring will become a single chain (and not multiple chains/fragments).

[JoshG]

The stack is 6 total switches in a ring topology. I will be removing three members, and leaving three in a ring topology.

Edited to remove email info.

[akg7]

Hi,

I believe you are removing member not the master.

If a member can be removed from a running stack. All configuration associated with the member will be removed.

If the member is physically present in the stack at the time it is removed, all stack configurations on that member will be erased and it will lose its identity as a member of the stack from which it was removed. 

Before removing an individual interface from stack link, ensure that the interface is admin shutdown at both local and peer ends.

For example: Interface 1/1/25 on member 1 link 1 is connected to 2/1/25 on member 2 link 2. The user intends to remove 1/1/25 from link 1 of member 1. Both the interfaces 1/1/25 and 2/1/25 have to be admin shutdown before actually removing them from the link configuration.

Thanks!

[parnassus]

The point is (without going too deep at first with stacking management or operating procedures) that the OP doesn't currently know the roles of stack members he/she planned to remove...roles that are particularly important considering the operations he/she is going to perform. IMHO he/she needs first to get used to stacking concepts and its basic management.

[JoshG]

These are basic members in the stack, not commander or standby. These members have no attached clients. These are members 4, 5, and 6 of the existing stack. These three will be removed, and then 1 (member),  2 (commander), and 3 (standby) will be left and re-cabled for ring. 

My questions are: when I run the no stack member 4/5/6 commands, is there a particular order in which they should be run? What is expected behavior from the switches? I know the removed members will reboot, but when I remove the stack cables, will the three remaining switches show any errors? Will the remaining switches reboot when I connect the stack cables to re-create the ring?

[akg7]

Hi,

You can start from last member..

Refer below configuration guide link pg. 637  'vsf member shutdown', 'vsf member remove' section:

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=a00055700en_us

and

https://techhub.hpe.com/eginfolib/networking/docs/switches/RA/15-18/5998-8155_ra-2620_atmg/content/index.html

Thanks!

[akg7]

Hello,

Has my post helped you to answer your query?

Thanks!