Working on stacking two Cisco 2060X switches recently, and two 2960X Stack module and 0.5m stacking cables received today. Product name is C2960X-STACK= and description is Catalyst 2960-X FlexStack Plus Stacking Module optional. Part Number is CMUCAEGBAA.

For 3850 switches, it is in this post:



Stacking Requirements:

Hardware Requirement:
The 2960-S and 2960-X support a mixed stack of 2960 models. All these 2960 models run the FlexStack protocol, allowing them to be stacked together into a single stack. The exception is the 2960-XR does not stack with either the 2960-X or the 2960-S.

When the 2960-S and 2960-X members are stacked together, the entire stack (even the 2960-X members) fall back to FlexStack capabilities. Mixing 2960 members limits the max stack members to four, and 20Gbps stack bandwidth per member, and 40Gbps per stack also stack convergence time is increased from milliseconds to 1 to 2 seconds.

Software Version Requirement:
All stack members must run the same Cisco IOS software image to ensure compatibility among stack members. Stacking is not supported on switches running the LAN Lite image. All switches in the stack must be running the LAN Base image.

Installation:
1. Insert the Module


2. Connect Cables

Creating a Switch Stack from Two Standalone Switches 

Adding a Standalone Switch to a Switch Stack 

3. Verification 

EXT1#show ver
Cisco IOS Software, C2960X Software (C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 15.0(2a)EX5, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc3)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2015 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Mon 16-Feb-15 08:16 by prod_rel_team

ROM: Bootstrap program is C2960X boot loader
BOOTLDR: C2960X Boot Loader (C2960X-HBOOT-M) Version 15.2(3r)E1, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

SW-TEST1-DMZ-F5EXT1 uptime is 3 hours, 59 minutes
System returned to ROM by power-on
System restarted at 11:02:11 EDT Mon Oct 17 2016
System image file is "flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5.bin"


This product contains cryptographic features and is subject to United
States and local country laws governing import, export, transfer and
use. Delivery of Cisco cryptographic products does not imply
third-party authority to import, export, distribute or use encryption.
Importers, exporters, distributors and users are responsible for
compliance with U.S. and local country laws. By using this product you
agree to comply with applicable laws and regulations. If you are unable
to comply with U.S. and local laws, return this product immediately.

A summary of U.S. laws governing Cisco cryptographic products may be found at:
http://www.cisco.com/wwl/export/crypto/tool/stqrg.html

If you require further assistance please contact us by sending email to
[email protected].

cisco WS-C2960X-24PS-L (APM86ZZZ) processor (revision L0) with 524288K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FCW2014B3YB
Last reset from power-on
1 Virtual Ethernet interface
1 FastEthernet interface
56 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.

512K bytes of flash-simulated non-volatile configuration memory.
Base ethernet MAC Address       : 00:6C:BC:CE:5C:00
Motherboard assembly number     : 73-16694-04
Power supply part number        : 341-0528-02
Motherboard serial number       : FOC20145HSN
Power supply serial number      : LIT20021AUV
Model revision number           : L0
Motherboard revision number     : B0
Model number                    : WS-C2960X-24PS-L
Daughterboard assembly number   : 73-14200-03
Daughterboard serial number     : FOC20145WY6
System serial number            : FCW2015B3YB
Top Assembly Part Number        : 68-100472-02
Top Assembly Revision Number    : A0
Version ID                      : V04
CLEI Code Number                : CMMLR00ARD
Daughterboard revision number   : A0
Hardware Board Revision Number  : 0x18


Switch Ports Model              SW Version            SW Image                 
------ ----- -----              ----------            ----------               
*    1 28    WS-C2960X-24PS-L   15.0(2a)EX5           C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M     
     2 28    WS-C2960X-24TS-L   15.0(2)EX5            C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M     


Cisco 2960 Stacking MAST LED Status for Master and Members

EXT1#show switch 
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 006c.bccd.5c00
                                           H/W   Current
Switch#  Role   Mac Address     Priority Version  State 
----------------------------------------------------------
*1       Master 006c.bccd.5c00     14     4       Ready               
 2       Member ccd8.c149.a080     1      4       Ready               


EXT1#show switch detail 
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 006c.bccd.5c00
                                           H/W   Current
Switch#  Role   Mac Address     Priority Version  State 
----------------------------------------------------------
*1       Master 006c.bccd.5c00     14     4       Ready               
 2       Member ccd8.c149.a080     1      4       Ready               



         Stack Port Status             Neighbors     
Switch#  Port 1     Port 2           Port 1   Port 2 
--------------------------------------------------------
  1        Ok         Ok                2        2 
  2        Ok         Ok                1        1 

Reloading one member:

EXT1#reload slot ?
  <1-8>  Slot number of RP or line card

EXT1#reload slot 2
Proceed with reload? [confirm]
EXT1#show swi
EXT1#show switch 
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 006c.bccd.5c00
                                           H/W   Current
Switch#  Role   Mac Address     Priority Version  State 
----------------------------------------------------------
*1       Master 006c.bccd.5c00     14     4       Ready               
 2       Member ccd8.c149.a080     1      4       Ready               




EXT1#reload slot 1
Proceed with reload? [confirm]
Switch 1 reloading...

EXT1#show switch 
Switch/Stack Mac Address : ccd8.c149.a080
                                           H/W   Current
Switch#  Role   Mac Address     Priority Version  State 
----------------------------------------------------------
 1       Member 006c.bccd.5c00     14     4       Ready               
*2       Master ccd8.c149.a080     1      4       Ready               



EXT1#show switch 
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 006c.bccd.5c00
                                           H/W   Current
Switch#  Role   Mac Address     Priority Version  State 
----------------------------------------------------------
*1       Master 006c.bccd.5c00     14     4       Ready               
 2       Member 0000.0000.0000     0      0       Removed             

EXT1#session ?
  <1-8>  Switch number

EXT1#session 1
EXT1-1#
EXT1#show switch stack-ring speed 

Stack Ring Speed        : 20G
Stack Ring Configuration: Full
Stack Ring Protocol     : FlexStack

EXT1#show switch stack-ports 
  Switch #    Port 1       Port 2 
  --------    ------       ------ 
    1           Ok           Ok   
    2           Ok           Ok   


EXT1#show switch 
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 70f3.5a00.e480
                                           H/W   Current
Switch#  Role   Mac Address     Priority Version  State 
----------------------------------------------------------
*1       Master 70f3.5a00.e480     1      4       Ready               
 2       Member 00a3.d158.6d80     1      4       Ready               

4. Other Commands:

4.1 Dir Flash:


EXT1#dir flash:
Directory of flash:/

    2  -rwx        6052   Sep 8 2015 16:22:58 -04:00  backup-Sep--8-16-22-58.780-EDT-3
    3  -rwx        5859   Sep 4 2015 14:48:57 -04:00  backup-Sep--4-14-48-57.033-EDT-0
    4  -rwx         616  Sep 27 2016 22:58:35 -04:00  vlan.dat.renamed
    5  -rwx        6035   Sep 8 2015 13:52:08 -04:00  backup-Sep--8-13-52-08.835-EDT-1
    6  -rwx        5780   Sep 4 2015 15:19:15 -04:00  backup-Sep--4-15-19-15.225-EDT-0
    7  -rwx        6071   Sep 8 2015 13:52:31 -04:00  backup-Sep--8-13-52-31.858-EDT-2
    8  drwx         512   Jan 3 2000 10:02:28 -05:00  c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2.EX5
  647  drwx         512   Jan 3 2000 10:02:28 -05:00  dc_profile_dir
  649  -rwx        6185   Jan 5 2016 21:25:51 -05:00  backup-Jan--5-21-25-51.166-EST-0
  650  -rwx        6282  Jan 15 2016 19:52:56 -05:00  backup-Jan-15-19-52-56.460-EST-1
  651  -rwx        5637  Sep 27 2016 22:59:24 -04:00  backup-Sep-27-22-59-24.303-EDT-2
  653  -rwx        3563  Sep 27 2016 22:59:24 -04:00  private-config.text.renamed
  654  -rwx        5637  Sep 27 2016 22:59:24 -04:00  config.text.renamed
  655  -rwx         759  Sep 30 2016 00:10:23 -04:00  express_setup.debug
  656  -rwx         556  Oct 17 2016 11:29:24 -04:00  vlan.dat
  657  -rwx        9113  Oct 17 2016 15:10:59 -04:00  config.text
  658  -rwx        3932  Oct 17 2016 15:11:00 -04:00  private-config.text
  659  -rwx        1048  Oct 18 2016 11:15:09 -04:00  multiple-fs

122185728 bytes total (98629632 bytes free)

EXT1#dir flash1:
Directory of flash1:/

    2  -rwx        9113  Oct 17 2016 15:11:00 -04:00  backup-Oct-17-15-11-00.081-EDT-3
    3  -rwx        9113  Oct 17 2016 15:01:10 -04:00  backup-Oct-17-15-01-10.353-EDT-2
    4  -rwx         556  Oct 18 2016 07:18:55 -04:00  vlan.dat
    5  -rwx        9113  Oct 17 2016 13:58:28 -04:00  backup-Oct-17-13-58-28.859-EDT-1
    6  -rwx        8132   Oct 7 2016 16:51:18 -04:00  backup-Oct--7-16-51-18.005-EDT-0
    7  -rwx        8134  Oct 17 2016 12:43:53 -04:00  backup-Oct-17-12-43-53.701-EDT-0
    8  drwx         512   Apr 7 2016 05:22:59 -04:00  c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5
  647  drwx         512   Apr 7 2016 05:23:01 -04:00  dc_profile_dir
  649  -rwx        3932  Oct 17 2016 15:10:59 -04:00  private-config.text
  650  -rwx        9113  Oct 17 2016 15:10:59 -04:00  config.text
  651  -rwx        2072  Oct 17 2016 11:15:34 -04:00  multiple-fs

122185728 bytes total (98645504 bytes free)


The command “dir flash:” means “show me the flash content of the MASTER switch”.
The command “dir flash1:” means “show me the flash content of switch stack member 1”.
The command “dir flash2:” means “show me the flash content of switch stack member 2”.

4.2 Steps to upgrade Stacking Switches IOS:
4.2.1 TFTP or FTP to both flash:

copy ftp: flash1:
copy ftp: flash2:

4.2.2Configure both switches to use new BIN file:

boot system switch all flash:/c2960s-universalk9-mz.150-2.SE5.bin

4.2.3 Save and reload both switch members at the same time:

Remember: If you don’t upgrade the IOS on every switch, you will have a version mismatch! To resolve this problem, use the command “archive copy-sw /force-reload /overwrite /dest 2 1” as suggested by the local log!

Copy system image from member 1 to member 2


EXT1#archive copy-sw /force-reload /overwrite /destination-system 2 1 
System software to be uploaded:
System Type:             0x00000000
archiving c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5 (directory)
archiving c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5/info (803 bytes)
archiving c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5/html (directory)
archiving c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5/html/zh (directory)
........(Omitted)
archiving c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5.bin (18233984 bytes)
archiving c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5 (directory)
archiving c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5/info (805 bytes)
archiving info (112 bytes)
examining image...
extracting info (112 bytes)
extracting c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5/info (803 bytes)
extracting c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5/info (805 bytes)
extracting info (112 bytes)

Stacking Version Number: 1.55

System Type:             0x00000000
  Ios Image File Size:   0x01164A00
  Total Image File Size: 0x015DE800
  Minimum Dram required: 0x08000000
  Image Suffix:          universalk9-150-2a.EX5
  Image Directory:       c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5
  Image Name:            c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5.bin
  Image Feature:         IP|LAYER_2|SSH|3DES|MIN_DRAM_MEG=128
  FRU Module Version:    No FRU Version Specified

Old image for switch 2: flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2.EX5
  Old image will be deleted before download.

Deleting `flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2.EX5' to create required space
Extracting images from archive into flash...

Warning: Unable to allocate memory to display the tar extraction of files,
         however upgrade process is still continuing. If you would like to 
         see the tar extraction output, try upgrading one switch at a time.

Installing (renaming): `flash:update/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5' ->
                                       `flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5'
New software image installed in flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5



Deleting old files from dc profile dir "flash:/dc_profile_dir"
All software images installed.
Requested system reload in progress...



Upgrading IOS from FTP tar file:


EXT1#archive download-sw /leave-old-sw ftp://test:[email protected]/c2960x-universalk9-tar.152-2.E5.tar 
Loading c2960x-universalk9-tar.152-2.E5.tar !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 26900480/4096 bytes]

Loading c2960x-universalk9-tar.152-2.E5.tar !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
examining image...
extracting info (109 bytes)
extracting c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5/info (786 bytes)
extracting info (109 bytes)

Stacking Version Number: 1.56

System Type:             0x00000000
  Ios Image File Size:   0x0144B200
  Total Image File Size: 0x019A7A00
  Minimum Dram required: 0x08000000
  Image Suffix:          universalk9-152-2.E5
  Image Directory:       c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5
  Image Name:            c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5.bin
  Image Feature:         IP|LAYER_2|SSH|3DES|MIN_DRAM_MEG=128
  FRU Module Version:    No FRU Version Specified

Old image for switch 1: flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5
  Old image will be left alone
Old image for switch 2: flash2:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5
  Old image will be left alone

Extracting images from archive into flash...
Extracting images from archive into flash on switch 2...

Warning: Unable to allocate memory to display the tar extraction of files,
         however upgrade process is still continuing. If you would like to 
         see the tar extraction output, try upgrading one switch at a time.


Warning: Unable to allocate memory to display the tar extraction of files,
         however upgrade process is still continuing. If you would like to 
         see the tar extraction output, try upgrading one switch at a time.

Installing (renaming): `flash:update/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5' ->
                                       `flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5'
New software image installed in flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5

Installing (renaming): `flash2:/update/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5' ->
                                       `flash2:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5'
New software image installed in flash2:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5



Deleting old files from dc profile dir "flash:/dc_profile_dir"

extracting dc profile file from "flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5/dc_default_profiles.txt" to "flash:/dc_profile_dir/dc_default_profiles.txt"

extracting dc profile file from "flash2:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5/dc_default_profiles.txt" to "flash2:/dc_profile_dir/dc_default_profiles.txt"
All software images installed.

EXT1(config)#do dir flash:
Directory of flash:/

    2  -rwx        9113  Oct 17 2016 15:11:00 -04:00  backup-Oct-17-15-11-00.081-EDT-3
    3  -rwx        9113  Oct 17 2016 15:01:10 -04:00  backup-Oct-17-15-01-10.353-EDT-2
    4  -rwx         556  Oct 18 2016 07:18:55 -04:00  vlan.dat
    5  -rwx        9113  Oct 17 2016 13:58:28 -04:00  backup-Oct-17-13-58-28.859-EDT-1
    6  -rwx        8132   Oct 7 2016 16:51:18 -04:00  backup-Oct--7-16-51-18.005-EDT-0
    7  -rwx        8134  Oct 17 2016 12:43:53 -04:00  backup-Oct-17-12-43-53.701-EDT-0
    8  drwx         512   Apr 7 2016 05:22:59 -04:00  c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5
  647  drwx         512  Oct 18 2016 12:28:11 -04:00  dc_profile_dir
  652  -rwx        9242  Oct 18 2016 11:57:34 -04:00  backup-Oct-18-11-57-34.967-EDT-0
  649  -rwx        2072  Oct 18 2016 11:57:34 -04:00  multiple-fs
  650  -rwx        3932  Oct 18 2016 11:57:34 -04:00  private-config.text
  651  -rwx        9242  Oct 18 2016 11:57:34 -04:00  config.text
  654  drwx         512  Oct 18 2016 12:28:10 -04:00  c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5

122185728 bytes total (71591936 bytes free)

EXT1# show switch 
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 006c.bccd.5c00
                                           H/W   Current
Switch#  Role   Mac Address     Priority Version  State 
----------------------------------------------------------
*1       Master 006c.bccd.5c00     14     4       Ready               
 2       Member ccd8.c149.a080     1      4       Ready               

For TFTP:


EXT1# archive download-sw /leave-old-sw /reload tftp:10.20.10.30/saved/myImage.tar

References:

By Jon

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