Module 6: EtherChannel

Switching, Routing and Wireless

Essentials v7.0 (SRWE)
Module Objectives
Module Title: EtherChannel

Module Objective: Troubleshoot EtherChannel on switched links.

Topic Title Topic Objective

EtherChannel Operation Describe EtherChannel technology.

Configure EtherChannel Configure EtherChannel.

Verify and Troubleshoot
Troubleshoot EtherChannel.
EtherChannel

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6.1 EtherChannel Operation

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EtherChannel Operation
Link Aggregation
• There are scenarios in which more bandwidth or redundancy between
devices is needed than what can be provided by a single link. Multiple links
could be connected between devices to increase bandwidth.
• A link aggregation technology is needed that allows redundant links between
devices that will not be blocked by STP. That technology is known as
EtherChannel.
• EtherChannel is a link aggregation technology that groups multiple physical
Ethernet links together into one single logical link. It is used to provide fault-
tolerance, load sharing, increased bandwidth, and redundancy between
switches, routers, and servers.

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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.

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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.
• 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.
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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.
• 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.

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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.

PAgP helps create the EtherChannel link by detecting the configuration of each side and ensuring
that links are compatible so that the EtherChannel link can be enabled when needed. The modes for
PAgP as follows:
• On - This mode forces the interface to channel without PAgP. Interfaces configured in the on
mode do not exchange PAgP packets.
• PAgP desirable - This PAgP mode places an interface in an active negotiating state in which
the interface initiates negotiations with other interfaces by sending PAgP packets.
• PAgP auto - This PAgP mode places an interface in a passive negotiating state in which the
interface responds to the PAgP packets that it receives but does not initiate PAgP negotiation.

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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
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EtherChannel Operation
LACP Operation
LACP is part of an IEEE specification (802.3ad) that allows several physical ports to be bundled to form
a single logical channel. LACP allows a switch to negotiate an automatic bundle by sending LACP
packets to the other switch. It performs a function similar to PAgP with Cisco EtherChannel. Because
LACP is an IEEE standard, it can be used to facilitate EtherChannels in multivendor environments. On
Cisco devices, both protocols are supported.

LACP provides the same negotiation benefits as PAgP. LACP helps create the EtherChannel link by
detecting the configuration of each side and making sure that they are compatible so that the
EtherChannel link can be enabled when needed. The modes for LACP are as follows:
• On - This mode forces the interface to channel without LACP. Interfaces configured in the on
mode do not exchange LACP packets.
• LACP active - This LACP mode places a port in an active negotiating state. In this state, the port
initiates negotiations with other ports by sending LACP packets.
• LACP passive - This LACP mode places a port in a passive negotiating state. In this state, the
port responds to the LACP packets that it receives but does not initiate LACP packet negotiation.

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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
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6.2 Configure EtherChannel

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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.

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6.3 Verify and Troubleshoot
EtherChannel

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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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