The stack master is the single point of stack-wide management. From the stack master, you configure:
- System-level (global) features that apply to all stack members.
- Interface-level features for all interfaces on any stack member.
A switch stack is identified in the network by its network IP address. The network IP address is assigned according to the MAC address of the stack master. Every stack member is uniquely identified by its own stack member number.
The stack master contains the saved and running configuration files for the switch stack. The configuration files include the system-level settings for the switch stack and the interface-level settings for all stack members. Each stack member retains a copy of the saved file for backup purposes. If the master is removed from the stack, another member is elected master, and then runs from that saved configuration.
All stack members are eligible stack masters. If the stack master becomes unavailable, the remaining stack members participate in electing a new stack master. A set of factors determine which switch is elected the stack master. The stack master is elected or re-elected based on one of these factors and in the order listed:
- The switch that is currently the stack master.
- The switch with the highest stack member priority value.
Note: NETGEAR recommends assigning the highest priority value to the switch that you prefer to be the stack master. This ensures that the switch is re-elected as stack master if a re-election occurs.
- The switch with the higher MAC address.
A stack master retains its role unless one of these events occurs:
- The stack master is removed from the switch stack
- The stack master is reset or powered off
- The stack master has failed
- The switch stack membership is increased by adding powered-on standalone switches or switch stacks
In the case of a master re-election, the new stack master becomes available after a few seconds. In the meantime, the switch stack uses the forwarding tables in memory to minimize network disruption. The physical interfaces on the other available stack members are not affected while a new stack master is elected. If a new stack master is elected and the previous stack master becomes available, the previous stack master does not resume its role as stack master.
For more information, see the following support articles:
- What is a switch stack, stack master, and stack members and how do they work with my managed switch?
- How do I use connectivity to manage the switch stack on my managed switch?
This article applies to the following managed switches and their respective firmware:
- M5300 - firmware version 10.0.0.x
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- M5300-28G (GSM7228S)
- M5300-5G (GSM7252S)
- M5300-28G3 (GSM7328Sv2h2)
- M5300-52G3 (GSM7352Sv2h2)
- M5300-28G_POE+ (GSM7228PSv1h2)
- M5300-52G-POE+ (GSM7252PSv1h2)
- M5300-28GF3 (GSM7328FSv2)
- XSM7224S - firmware version 9.0.1.x