The　article　presents　distributed　output　feedback　synthesis　for　both　leaderless　consensus　and　leader-follower　consensus　of　linear　multiagent　systems　subject　to　jointly　connected　switching　networks.　Luenberger　type　distributed　observers　are　proposed　based　on　the　neighborhood　output　estimation　error,　and　distributed　output　feedback　controllers　are　developed　according　to　the　certainty　equivalence　principle.　To　show　uniform　global　exponential　stability　of　the　switched　closed-loop　system,　a　separation　principle　for　a　class　of　switched　linear　systems　with　a　cascaded　structure　is　established　employing　weak　Lyapunov　function　and　checking　weak　zero-state　detectability　of　its　＇diagonal＇　switched　subsystems.　It　is　shown　that　the　weak　zero-state　detectability　can　be　guaranteed　by　a　generalized　uniformly　jointly　connected　condition　of　switching　networks　without　any　dwell-time　constraints.　©　1963-2012　IEEE.