FastIron stacking distances and optics by device

Because Brocade 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, 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.

NOTE

The same optics (for example, LR4) must be used on both ends of a connection. If the optics do not match on both ends, the ports will not come up.

The following table shows copper and fiber-optic options approved for stacking and stacking distance combinations. For more information on Brocade cable options, refer to The Brocade Optics Family Datasheet on the Brocade website.

Table 3 Copper and fiber-optic options and stacking distances
Device	Stacking port	Copper options	Fiber-optic options	Fiber-optic maximum stacking distance
ICX 7750	6 X 40-Gbps Front and rear stacking and uplink	0.5- or 1-meter passive copper 1-, 3-, or 5-meter QSFP-QSFP active direct-attach copper, 7 or 10-meter QSFP-QSFP AOC	40G-QSFP-SR4	100 meters
			40G-QSFP-BiDi	100 meters
			40G-QSFP-eSR4	300 meters
			40G-QSFP-LR4¹	10 kilometers for ICX 7750-26Q, ICX 7750-48C, and ICX 7750-48F devices²
ICX 7450 (rear)	1 X 40-Gbps stacking and uplink on slots 3 and 4 ³	0.5- or 1-meter passive copper 1-, 3-, or 5-meter QSFP-QSFP active direct-attach copper	40G-QSFP-LR4	10 kilometers
			40G-QSFP-SR4	100 meters
			40G-QSFP-eSR4	300 meters
ICX 7450 (front)	4 X 10-Gbps stacking on slot 2 with the icx7400-4x10GF module only	1-, 3-, or 5-meter SFP+ active direct-attach copper, 7 or 10-meter SFP+ AOC	10G-SFPP-USR	100 meters
			10G-SFPP-SR	300 meters
			10G-SFPP-LR	10 kilometers
ICX 7250	4 X 10-Gbps stacking from dedicated or uplink ports 4 X 10F SFP+ uplink ports: No-PHY 4 X 10F SFP+ stacking ports: With re-timer capability	1-, 3-, or 5-meter active cables	10GE SR SFP+ 10GE USR SFP+ 10GE LR SFP+	300 meters 100 meters 10 kilometers

¹ LR4 optics can be used only on specified ICX 7750 ports. Refer to "Long-distance stacking ports" in this guide.

² Extended distance stacking on the ICX 7750 is restricted to certain ports. Refer to "Installing the ICX 7750 in a remote stack" in this guide.

³ For data uplink only, the following 40-Gbps optics are available on ICX 7450 devices: 40G-QSFP-BiDi, 40-G-QSFP-LM4, 40G-QSFP-ER4

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FastIron stacking distances and optics by device