In one embodiment, a stack manager of an operating system on a network device configures an egress abstract stack port and an ingress abstract stack port, where the configuring maps one or more physical ports of the network device to a corresponding abstract stack port. The stack manager then transmits platform-independent egress stack discovery messages on the egress abstract port to a remote ingress abstract stack port of an adjacent stack member, and receives platform-independent ingress stack discovery messages on the ingress abstract port from a remote egress abstract stack port of an adjacent stack member. The stack manager may then provide platform-independent stacked network device operation using connectivity between the egress abstract stack port and remote ingress abstract stack port, and connectivity between the remote egress abstract stack port and ingress abstract stack port.