4500 Catalyst to MS425 Switch Changeover

[Riser]

Hi All,

I have a few questions here and would kindly appreciate your responses or thoughts;

We are looking at switching from Cisco's 4500 catalysts to Meraki's MS425 switches (3 switches will be replaced)

1. What stacking cables should we use for the MS425?

    - We will also be getting the MS355s and looking at stacking them for another different network

2. The 4500 switches use the EIGRP protocol to learn static routes, a Cisco protocol that these Meraki switches do not use. Any ideas on how we can circumvent this issue?

3. Being that these switches cannot be configured to use EIGRP, does it mean that this will affect the network's ability to route DHCP for IP helper to do its job? Is there any fix for this if yes?

TIA......

[GreenMan · Accepted solution]

Assuming your MS425 units are co-located, stacking cables would be MA-CBL-40G-1M  (1 metre version).    -50CM or -3M versions are also available.   https://meraki.cisco.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/meraki_datasheet_sfp.pdf 
If they are more widely separated (unlikely, if you're replacing a sigle chassis), look at using Flexible Stacking, via fibre links:   https://documentation.meraki.com/MS/Stacking/Switch_Stacks#Understanding_Flexible_Stacking

You should look into using OSPF as an alternative dynamic routing protocol, supported by the MS425s (and the 355s, if you need to route on those too).   You will need to look into what other routers / layer-3 switches the 4500 is currently exchanging routes with using EIGRP and possibly transition them to OSPF too.   Likewise any other routers, beyond, in the same EIGRP setup.   I'd also check whether a full routing protocol is really needed.  Often, if you're on the periphery of a larger network you can achieve similar outcomes using (say) a static route or routes to a virtual IP address (a pair of routers running HSRP / VRRP, for example).   Not sure what else you may have, switching-wise, downstream of the 4500, by way of access switches, but you will want to check out the Spanning Tree setup;   MS switches do not support the proprietary PVST / PVST+ that Catalyst switches are usually running.  https://documentation.meraki.com/MS/Meraki_Campus_LAN%3B_Planning%2C_Design_Guidelines_and_Best_Prac... 
I'd recommend you hook up with an experienced Cisco Partner to help you with this project.

[Riser]

"Not sure what else you may have, switching-wise, downstream of the 4500, by way of access switches"

We have the MS225 (3 of them) & MS120(9 of them)

[GreenMan]

OK so, with no more Catalyst switches in the LAN, you will be employing just RSTP 👍

Just follow the general recommendations for configuing STP on Meraki switches - in particular make sure your MS425 stack is your root bridge