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2 Etherchannels

EtherChannel allows grouping of multiple Ethernet ports into a single logical trunk to provide increased bandwidth and redundancy. When configured, the physical interfaces are bundled into a port channel interface. EtherChannel relies on existing switch ports and protocols like PAgP and LACP to dynamically negotiate channel formation between devices. Configuration guidelines require interfaces within a channel to have matching settings for speed, duplex mode, VLAN membership, and other parameters.

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24 views

2 Etherchannels

EtherChannel allows grouping of multiple Ethernet ports into a single logical trunk to provide increased bandwidth and redundancy. When configured, the physical interfaces are bundled into a port channel interface. EtherChannel relies on existing switch ports and protocols like PAgP and LACP to dynamically negotiate channel formation between devices. Configuration guidelines require interfaces within a channel to have matching settings for speed, duplex mode, VLAN membership, and other parameters.

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gabi_maris
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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EtherChannel

Switching, Routing and Wireless


Essentials v7.0 (SRWE)
EtherChannel Operation
EtherChannel
EtherChannel technology was
originally developed by Cisco as a LAN
switch-to-switch technique of
grouping several Fast Ethernet or
Gigabit Ethernet ports into one
logical channel.

When an EtherChannel is configured,


the resulting virtual interface is
called a port channel. The physical
interfaces are bundled together into
a port channel interface, as shown in
the figure.
EtherChannel Operation
Advantages of EtherChannel
EtherChannel technology has many advantages, including the following :
• Most configuration tasks can be done on the EtherChannel interface instead of on each individual port,
ensuring configuration consistency throughout the links.
• EtherChannel relies on existing switch ports. There is no need to upgrade the link to a faster and more
expensive connection to have more bandwidth.
• Load balancing takes place between links that are part of the same EtherChannel.
• EtherChannel creates an aggregation that is seen as one logical link. When several EtherChannel
bundles exist between two switches, STP may block one of the bundles to prevent switching loops.
When STP blocks one of the redundant links, it blocks the entire EtherChannel. This blocks all the ports
belonging to that EtherChannel link. Where there is only one EtherChannel link, all physical links in the
EtherChannel are active because STP sees only one (logical) link.
• EtherChannel provides redundancy because the overall link is seen as one logical connection.
Additionally, the loss of one physical link within the channel does not create a change in the topology.
EtherChannel Operation
Implementation Restrictions
EtherChannel has certain implementation restrictions, including the following:
• Interface types cannot be mixed. For example, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet cannot be
mixed within a single EtherChannel.
• Currently each EtherChannel can consist of up to eight compatibly-configured Ethernet ports.
EtherChannel provides full-duplex bandwidth up to 800 Mbps (Fast EtherChannel) or 8 Gbps
(Gigabit EtherChannel) between one switch and another switch or host.
• The Cisco Catalyst 2960 Layer 2 switch currently supports up to six EtherChannels.
• The individual EtherChannel group member port configuration must be consistent on both
devices. If the physical ports of one side are configured as trunks, the physical ports of the
other side must also be configured as trunks within the same native VLAN. Additionally, all
ports in each EtherChannel link must be configured as Layer 2 ports.
• Each EtherChannel has a logical port channel interface. A configuration applied to the port
channel interface affects all physical interfaces that are assigned to that interface.
EtherChannel Operation
AutoNegotiation Protocols
EtherChannels can be formed through negotiation using one of two protocols, Port Aggregation
Protocol (PAgP) or Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP). These protocols allow ports with
similar characteristics to form a channel through dynamic negotiation with adjoining switches.

Note: It is also possible to configure a static or unconditional EtherChannel without PAgP or LACP.
EtherChannel Operation
PAgP Mode Settings Example

The table shows the various combination of PAgP modes on S1 and S2 and the resulting channel establishment outcome.

S1 S2 Channel Establishment
On On Yes
On Desirable/Auto No
Desirable Desirable Yes
Desirable Auto Yes
Auto Desirable Yes
Auto Auto No
EtherChannel Operation
LACP Mode Settings Example

The table shows the various combination of LACP modes on S1 and S2 and the resulting channel establishment outcome.
S1 S2 Channel Establishment
On On Yes
On Active/Passive No
Active Active Yes
Active Passive Yes
Passive Active Yes
Passive Passive No
Configure EtherChannel

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 8
Configure EtherChannel
Configuration Guidelines
The following guidelines and restrictions are useful for configuring EtherChannel:
• EtherChannel support - All Ethernet interfaces must support EtherChannel with no
requirement that interfaces be physically contiguous.
• Speed and duplex - Configure all interfaces in an EtherChannel to operate at the same speed
and in the same duplex mode.
• VLAN match (access) - All interfaces in the EtherChannel bundle must be assigned to the same
VLAN or be configured as a trunk.
• Range of VLANs (trunk) - An EtherChannel supports the same allowed range of VLANs on all
the interfaces in a trunking EtherChannel. If the allowed range of VLANs is not the same, the
interfaces do not form an EtherChannel, even when they are set to auto or desirable mode.
Configure EtherChannel
Configuration Guidelines (Cont.)
• The figure shows a configuration that would allow an EtherChannel to form between S1 and S2.
• If these settings must be changed, configure them in port channel interface configuration mode. Any
configuration that is applied to the port channel interface also affects individual interfaces.
However, configurations that are applied to the individual interfaces do not affect the port channel
interface. Therefore, making configuration changes to an interface that is part of an EtherChannel
link may cause interface compatibility issues.
• The port channel can be configured in access mode, trunk mode (most common), or on a routed
port.
Configure EtherChannel
LACP Configuration Example
Configuring EtherChannel with LACP requires the following three steps:
• Step 1. Specify the interfaces that compose the EtherChannel group using the interface range interface global
configuration mode command. The range keyword allows you to select several interfaces and configure them all
together.
• Step 2. Create the port channel interface with the channel-group identifier mode active command in interface range
configuration mode. The identifier specifies a channel group number. The mode active keywords identify this as an LACP
EtherChannel configuration.
• Step3. To change Layer 2 settings on the port channel interface, enter port channel interface configuration mode using
the interface port-channel command, followed by the interface identifier. In the example, S1 is configured with an LACP
EtherChannel. The port channel is configured as a trunk interface with the allowed VLANs specified.
Verify and Troubleshoot EtherChannel
Verify EtherChannel
As always, when you configure devices in your network, you must verify your configuration. If
there are problems, you will also need to be able to troubleshoot and fix them. There are a
number of commands to verify an EtherChannel configuration:
• The show interfaces port-channel command displays the general status of the port channel
interface.
• The show etherchannel summary command displays one line of information per port channel.
• The show etherchannel port-channel command displays information about a specific port
channel interface.
• The show interfaces etherchannel command can provide information about the role of a
physical member interface of the EtherChannel.

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