FastIron Stacking Ports and Bandwidth

Because RUCKUS devices use Ethernet for the inter-switch stack connections, the deployment options are greatly increased. If standard copper stacking cables are used, the inter-switch connections can be up to 5 meters, which is usually sufficient for locally distributed stacks, such as in Top-of-Rack (ToR) applications. For broader distribution and where compatible with the ICX devices in the stack, fiber-optic cables should be used, allowing a stack to be deployed across multiple physical locations, such as in the wiring closets of an office building, or in different buildings on a campus.

Cables that support different distances can be combined in the same stack. For example, you can use LR4 Single Mode Fiber (SMF) optics at both ends of a stacking connection, and the maximum distance is extended to 10 kilometers. Other stacking ports in the same stack can use other optics, such as SR4, at both ends. The maximum distance for such a connection is 100 meters.

The following table lists stacking port options for each ICX device. For detailed information on available optics, refer to the RUCKUS Ethernet Optics Data Sheet.