Troubleshooting a strictly provisioned, mismatched MAC address

Cause

When switches are strictly provisioned, it is possible to enter an incorrect type or incorrect MAC address. If this occurs, the switch does not match the intended configuration entry and stacking attempts to add this switch as a new “plug-and-go” switch. If the stacking configuration already has 10 switches, then the “plug-and-go” fails.

The following example shows a stack with 9 members. There is a new J9576A switch that is supposed to be member 4; however, the MAC address was mis-typed, therefore, there is an “opening” for a plug-and-go at member 10. It will join as member 10.

Action
  1. This shows the stack before boot.

    Viewing a stack with 9 members 

    switch(stacking)#: show stacking

Stack ID         : 00031cc1-de4d87c0
MAC Address      : 1cc1de-4dc765
Stack Topology   : Ring021560
Stack Status     : Active
Uptime           : 0d 0h 56m
Software Version : KA.15.05.0000x

Mbr
ID  Mac Address   Model                                 Pri Status
--- ------------- ------------------------------------- --- --------------
1   1cc1de-4d87c0 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch  200 Standby
2   1cc1de-4dc740 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch  128 Commander
3   1cc1de-4dbd40 HPE J9575A 3810-24G-2SFP+ Switch       128 Member
4   1cc1de-444444 HPE J9576A 3810-48G-4SFP+ Switch       175 Not Joined
5   1cc1de-000005 HPE J9576A 3810-48G-4SFP+ Switch       128 Not Joined
6   1cc1de-000006 HPE J9576A 3810-48G-4SFP+ Switch       128 Not Joined
7   1cc1de-000007 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch  128 Not Joined
8   1cc1de-000008 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch  128 Not Joined
9   1cc1de-000009 HPE J9574A 3810-48G-PoE+-4SFP+ Switch  128 Not Joined
  2. This shows that, after booting, the switch is joined as member 10.

    Viewing a member joining the stack 

    switch(config)# show stacking

Stack ID : 00031cc1-de4d87c0
MAC Address : 1cc1de-4dc765
Stack Topology : Mesh
Stack Status : Active
Uptime : 0d 1h 11m
Software Version : KA.15.05.0000x

Mbr
ID  Mac Address   Model                                  Pri Status
--- ------------- -------------------------------------- --- -------------
1   1cc1de-4d87c0 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch   200 Standby
2   1cc1de-4dc740 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch   128 Commander
3   1cc1de-4dbd40 HPE J9575A 3810-24G-2SFP+ Switch        128 Member
4   1cc1de-444444 HPE J9576A 3810-48G-4SFP+ Switch        175 Not Joined
5   1cc1de-000005 HPE J9576A 3810-48G-4SFP+ Switch        128 Not Joined
6   1cc1de-000006 HPE J9576A 3810-48G-4SFP+ Switch        128 Not Joined
7   1cc1de-000007 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch   128 Not Joined
8   1cc1de-000008 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch   128 Not Joined
9   1cc1de-000009 HPE J9574A 3810-48G-PoE+-4SFP+ Switch   128 Not Joined
10  1cc1de-4d79c0 HPE J9576A 3810-48G-4SFP+ Switch        128 Member

    To correct this issue:

    1. Write down the correct MAC address.

    2. Remove the member that was added using plug-and-go with the strictly provisioned, mismatched MAC address as shown in the following example.

    3. Update the strictly provisioned entry with the correct MAC address.

    4. Boot the switch.

    Removing a member and updating the entry with a MAC address 
    switch(config)# stacking member 10 remove reboot

The specified stack member will be removed from the stack and
its configuration will be erased. The resulting configuration
will be saved. The stack member will be rebooted and join as
a new member. Continue [y/n]? Y

switch(config)# stacking member 4 type J9576A mac-address
  3. This shows that member 4 has joined the stack.

    Viewing that member 4 joined the stack 

    switch(config)# show stacking

Stack ID         : 00031cc1-de4d87c0
MAC Address      : 1cc1de-4dc765
Stack Topology   : Mesh
Stack Status     : Active
Uptime           : 0d 1h 19m
Software Version : KA.15.05.0000x

Mbr
ID  Mac Address   Model                                  Pri Status
--- ------------- -------------------------------------- --- ---------------
1   1cc1de-4d87c0 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch   200  Standby
2   1cc1de-4dc740 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch   128  Commander
3   1cc1de-4dbd40 HPE J9575A 3810-24G-2SFP+ Switch        128  Member
4   1cc1de-4d79c0 HPE J9576A 3810-48G-4SFP+ Switch        175  Member
5   1cc1de-000005 HPE J9576A 3810-48G-4SFP+ Switch        128  Not Joined
6   1cc1de-000006 HPE J9576A 3810-48G-4SFP+ Switch        128  Not Joined
7   1cc1de-000007 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch   128  Not Joined
8   1cc1de-000008 HPE J9573A 3810-24G-PoE+-2SFP+ Switch   128  Not Joined
9   1cc1de-000009 HPE J9574A 3810-48G-PoE+-4SFP+ Switch   128  Not Joined