What are the benefits and drawbacks of using a dedicated stack cable vs. a standard Ethernet cable?

1 Dedicated stack cable

A dedicated stack cable is a special type of cable that connects the stack ports of compatible switches. These ports are usually located at the back of the switch and have a high bandwidth and low latency. A dedicated stack cable can provide a full-duplex connection of up to 40 Gbps between each pair of switches, creating a ring topology that ensures continuity in case of a failure. A dedicated stack cable also simplifies the configuration and management of the stack, as the switches automatically detect each other and assign roles and priorities.

2 Standard Ethernet cable

A standard Ethernet cable is a common type of cable that connects the regular ports of any switches. These ports are usually located at the front of the switch and have a lower bandwidth and higher latency than the stack ports. A standard Ethernet cable can provide a half-duplex connection of up to 10 Gbps between each pair of switches, creating a linear or star topology that may have single points of failure. A standard Ethernet cable also requires more manual configuration and management of the stack, as the switches need to be assigned IP addresses, roles, and priorities.

3 Benefits of dedicated stack cable

Using a dedicated stack cable for switch stacking can offer several advantages, such as better performance, higher redundancy, and higher scalability. For example, data transfer and latency are improved with a dedicated stack cable, and it can create a ring topology that eliminates single points of failure. Additionally, depending on the model and vendor, up to 12 switches can be supported in a stack. Furthermore, having a dedicated stack cable simplifies the management of the stack since the switches act as a single unit with one IP address, configuration file, and point of access.

4 Drawbacks of dedicated stack cable

Using a dedicated stack cable for switch stacking can be costly and have lower compatibility and flexibility than a standard Ethernet cable. The initial purchase and maintenance of a dedicated stack cable are more expensive, and you may need to buy additional modules or adapters to connect the stack ports of different switches or vendors. Additionally, a dedicated stack cable is only compatible with switches that support stacking and have the same stack ports, making it difficult to use with switches from different vendors or models, or with switches that do not support stacking at all. Furthermore, it is less flexible than a standard Ethernet cable in terms of physical placement and logical design of the stack, limiting your options for how to arrange the switches in the rack or cabinet, and how to connect them to other devices or networks.

5 When to use dedicated stack cable vs. standard Ethernet cable

When deciding between a dedicated stack cable or a standard Ethernet cable for switch stacking, there are several factors to consider, such as your network requirements, switch compatibility, and budget and resources. High performance, redundancy, scalability, and ease of management may make a dedicated stack cable the better choice for your network. However, if you have lower or variable demands or switches without stack ports, then a standard Ethernet cable may be more suitable. Additionally, if you have enough budget and resources to buy and maintain a dedicated stack cable, then that is likely the best option.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?