channel
channel
This chapter describes how to use the command-line interface (CLI) to configure EtherChannel on the
Catalyst 4500 series switch Layer 2 or Layer 3 interfaces. It also provides guidelines, procedures, and
configuration examples.
This chapter includes the following major sections:
• Overview of EtherChannel, page 17-1
• EtherChannel Configuration Guidelines and Restrictions, page 17-5
• Configuring EtherChannel, page 17-6
Note The commands in the following sections can be used on all Ethernet interfaces on a Catalyst 4500 series
switch, including the uplink ports on the supervisor engine.
Note For complete syntax and usage information for the switch commands used in this chapter, refer to the
Catalyst 4500 Series Switch Cisco IOS Command Reference and related publications at
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/software/ios122/122cgcr/index.htm.
Overview of EtherChannel
These subsections describe how EtherChannel works:
• Understanding Port-Channel Interfaces, page 17-2
• Understanding How EtherChannels Are Configured, page 17-2
• Understanding Load Balancing, page 17-5
EtherChannel bundles individual Ethernet links into a single logical link that provides bandwidth up to
1600 Mbps (Fast EtherChannel full duplex) or 16 Gbps (Gigabit EtherChannel) between a Catalyst 4500
series switch and another switch or host.
A Catalyst 4500 series switch supports a maximum of 64 EtherChannels. You can form an EtherChannel
with up to eight compatibly configured Ethernet interfaces across modules in a Catalyst 4500 series
switch. All interfaces in each EtherChannel must be the same speed and must be configured as either
Layer 2 or Layer 3 interfaces.
Note The network device to which a Catalyst 4500 series switch is connected may impose its own limits on
the number of interfaces in an EtherChannel.
If a segment within an EtherChannel fails, traffic previously carried over the failed link switches to the
remaining segments within the EtherChannel. Once the segment fails, an SNMP trap is sent, identifying
the switch, the EtherChannel, and the failed link. Inbound broadcast and multicast packets on one
segment in an EtherChannel are blocked from returning on any other segment of the EtherChannel.
Note QoS does not propagate to members. The defaults, QoS cos = 0 and QoS dscp = 0, apply on the
port-channel. Input or output policies applied on individual interfaces will be ignored.
After you configure an EtherChannel, the configuration that you apply to the port-channel interface
affects the EtherChannel; the configuration that you apply to the physical interfaces affects only the
interface where you apply the configuration. To change the parameters of all ports in an EtherChannel,
apply configuration commands to the port-channel interface (such commands can be STP commands or
commands to configure a Layer 2 EtherChannel as a trunk).
Mode Description
on Mode that forces the LAN port to channel unconditionally. In the on mode, a usable
EtherChannel exists only when a LAN port group in the on mode is connected to another
LAN port group in the on mode. Because ports configured in the on mode do not negotiate,
there is no negotiation traffic between the ports.
auto PAgP mode that places a LAN port into a passive negotiating state, in which the port
responds to PAgP packets it receives but does not initiate PAgP negotiation.
desirable PAgP mode that places a LAN port into an active negotiating state, in which the port
initiates negotiations with other LAN ports by sending PAgP packets.
passive LACP mode that places a port into a passive negotiating state, in which the port responds
to LACP packets it receives but does not initiate LACP negotiation.
active LACP mode that places a port into an active negotiating state, in which the port initiates
negotiations with other ports by sending LACP packets.
The protocol learns the capabilities of LAN port groups dynamically and informs the other LAN ports.
Once LACP identifies correctly matched Ethernet links, it facilitates grouping the links into an
EtherChannel. The EtherChannel is then added to the spanning tree as a single bridge port.
Both the passive and active modes allow LACP to negotiate between LAN ports to determine if they can
form an EtherChannel, based on criteria such as port speed and trunking state. Layer 2 EtherChannels
also use VLAN numbers.
LAN ports can form an EtherChannel when they are in different LACP modes as long as the modes are
compatible. For example:
• A LAN port in active mode can form an EtherChannel successfully with another LAN port that is
in active mode.
• A LAN port in active mode can form an EtherChannel with another LAN port in passive mode.
• A LAN port in passive mode cannot form an EtherChannel with another LAN port that is also in
passive mode, because neither port will initiate negotiation.
LACP uses the following parameters:
• LACP system priority—You may configure an LACP system priority on each switch running LACP.
The system priority can be configured automatically or through the CLI. See the “Configuring the
LACP System Priority and System ID” section on page 17-11. LACP uses the system priority with
the switch MAC address to form the system ID and also during negotiation with other systems.
Note The LACP system ID is the combination of the LACP system priority value and the MAC
address of the switch.
• LACP port priority—You must configure an LACP port priority on each port configured to use
LACP. The port priority can be configured automatically or through the CLI. See the “Configuring
Layer 2 EtherChannels” section on page 17-9. LACP uses the port priority with the port number to
form the port identifier.
Note Standby and “sub-channeling” are not supported in LACP and PagP.
• LACP administrative key—LACP automatically configures an administrative key value equal to the
channel group identification number on each port configured to use LACP. The administrative key
defines the ability of a port to aggregate with other ports. A port’s ability to aggregate with other
ports is determined by these factors:
– Port physical characteristics, such as data rate, duplex capability, and point-to-point or shared
medium
– Configuration restrictions that you establish
LACP tries to configure the maximum number of compatible ports in an EtherChannel, up to the
maximum allowed by the hardware (eight ports). If a port can not be actively included in a channel, it
will not be included automatically if a channelled port fails.
Note Load balancing can only be configured globally. As a result, all channels (manually configured, PagP,
or LACP) will use the same load balancing method.
For additional information on load balancing, see the “Configuring EtherChannel Load Balancing”
section on page 17-12.
• After you configure an EtherChannel, any configuration that you apply to the port-channel interface
affects the EtherChannel; any configuration that you apply to the physical interfaces affects only the
interface where you apply the configuration.
• You cannot configure a 802.1X port in an EtherChannel.
Configuring EtherChannel
These sections describe how to configure EtherChannel:
• Configuring Layer 3 EtherChannels, page 17-6
• Configuring Layer 2 EtherChannels, page 17-9
• Configuring the LACP System Priority and System ID, page 17-11
• Configuring EtherChannel Load Balancing, page 17-12
• Removing an Interface from an EtherChannel, page 17-13
• Removing an EtherChannel, page 17-14
Note Ensure that the interfaces are configured correctly. (See the “EtherChannel Configuration Guidelines
and Restrictions” section on page 17-5.)
Note To move an IP address from a physical interface to an EtherChannel, you must delete the IP address from
the physical interface before configuring it on the port-channel interface.
Command Purpose
Step 1 Switch(config)# interface port-channel Creates the port-channel interface. The value for
port_channel_number port_channel_number can range from 1 to 64
Step 2 Switch(config-if)# ip address ip_address mask Assigns an IP address and subnet mask to the
EtherChannel.
Step 3 Switch(config-if)# end Exits configuration mode.
Step 4 Switch# show running-config interface Verifies the configuration.
port-channel port_channel_number
Current configuration:
!
interface Port-channel1
ip address 172.32.52.10 255.255.255.0
no ip directed-broadcast
end
Switch#
Command Purpose
Step 1 Switch(config)# interface {fastethernet | Selects a physical interface to configure.
gigabitethernet | tengigabitethernet} slot/port
Step 2 Switch(config-if)# no switchport Makes this a Layer 3 routed port.
Step 3 Switch(config-if)# no ip address Ensures that there is no IP address assigned to the
physical interface.
Step 4 Switch(config-if)# channel-group port_channel_number Configures the interface in a port-channel and specify
mode {active | on | auto | passive | desirable} the PAgP or LACP mode.
If you use PAgP, select the keywords auto and
desirable.
If you use LACP, select the keywords active and
passive.
Command Purpose
Step 5 Switch(config-if)# end Exits configuration mode.
Step 6 Switch# show running-config interface port-channel Verifies the configuration.
port_channel_number
This example shows how to configure Fast Ethernet interfaces 5/4 and 5/5 into port-channel 1 with PAgP
mode desirable:
Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# interface range fastethernet 5/4 - 5 (Note: Space is mandatory.)
Switch(config-if)# no switchport
Switch(config-if)# no ip address
Switch(config-if)# channel-group 1 mode desirable
Switch(config-if)# end
Note See the “Configuring a Range of Interfaces” section on page 4-4 for information about the range
keyword.
The following two examples shows how to verify the configuration of Fast Ethernet interface 5/4:
Switch# show running-config interface fastethernet 5/4
Building configuration...
Current configuration:
!
interface FastEthernet5/4
no ip address
no switchport
no ip directed-broadcast
channel-group 1 mode desirable
end
Local information:
Hello Partner PAgP Learning Group
Port Flags State Timers Interval Count Priority Method Ifindex
Fa5/4 SC U6/S7 30s 1 128 Any 55
Partner's information:
Switch#
This example shows how to verify the configuration of port-channel interface 1 after the interfaces have
been configured:
Switch# show etherchannel 1 port-channel
Channel-group listing:
----------------------
Group: 1
------------
Switch#
Note Cisco IOS software creates port-channel interfaces for Layer 2 EtherChannels when you configure
Layer 2 Ethernet interfaces with the channel-group command.
To configure Layer 2 Ethernet interfaces as Layer 2 EtherChannels, perform this task for each interface:
Command Purpose
Step 1 Switch(config)# interface {fastethernet | gigabitethernet Selects a physical interface to configure.
| tengigabitethernet} slot/port
Step 2 Switch(config-if)# channel-group port_channel_number mode Configures the interface in a port-channel and
{active | on | auto | passive | desirable} specify the PAgP or LACP mode.
If you use PAgP, select the keywords active
and desirable.
If you use LACP, select the keywords active
and passive.
Step 3 Switch(config-if)# end Exits configuration mode.
Step 4 Switch# show running-config interface {fastethernet | Verifies the configuration.
gigabitethernet} slot/port
This example shows how to configure Fast Ethernet interfaces 5/6 and 5/7 into port-channel 2 with PAgP
mode desirable:
Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# interface range fastethernet 5/6 - 7 (Note: Space is mandatory.)
Switch(config-if-range)# channel-group 2 mode desirable
Switch(config-if-range)# end
Note See the “Configuring a Range of Interfaces” section on page 4-4 for information about the range
keyword.
Current configuration:
!
interface Port-channel2
switchport access vlan 10
switchport mode access
end
Switch#
The following two examples show how to verify the configuration of Fast Ethernet interface 5/6:
Switch# show running-config interface fastethernet 5/6
Building configuration...
Current configuration:
!
interface FastEthernet5/6
switchport access vlan 10
switchport mode access
channel-group 2 mode desirable
end
Partner's information:
This example shows how to verify the configuration of port-channel interface 2 after the interfaces have
been configured:
Switch# show etherchannel 2 port-channel
Port-channels in the group:
----------------------
Port-channel: Po2
------------
Switch#
To configure the LACP system priority and system ID, perform this task:
Command Purpose
Step 1 Router(config)# lacp system-priority (Optional for LACP) Valid values are 1 through 65535.
priority_value Higher numbers have lower priority. The default is 32768.
Router(config)# no system port-priority Reverts to the default.
Step 2 Router(config)# end Exits configuration mode.
Step 3 Router# show lacp sys-id Verifies the configuration.
The system priority is displayed first, followed by the MAC address of the switch.
Note Load balancing can only be configured globally. As a result, all channels (manually configured, PagP,
or LACP) will use the same load balancing method.
Command Purpose
Step 1 Switch(config)# [no] port-channel load-balance Configures EtherChannel load balancing.
{src-mac | dst-mac | src-dst-mac | src-ip |
dst-ip | src-dst-ip | src-port | dst-port | Use the no keyword to return EtherChannel load
src-dst-port} balancing to the default configuration.
Command Purpose
Step 2 Switch(config)# end Exits configuration mode.
Step 3 Switch# show etherchannel load-balance Verifies the configuration.
Command Purpose
Step 1 Switch(config)# interface {fastethernet | Selects a physical interface to configure.
gigabitethernet | tengigabitethernet} slot/port
Step 2 Switch(config-if)# no channel-group Removes the interface from the port-channel interface.
Step 3 Switch(config-if)# end Exits configuration mode.
Step 4 Switch# show running-config interface Verifies the configuration.
{fastethernet | gigabitethernet |
tengigabitethernet} slot/port
Switch# show interface {fastethernet |
gigabitethernet | tengigabitethernet} slot/port
etherchannel
This example shows how to remove Fast Ethernet interfaces 5/4 and 5/5 from port-channel 1:
Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# interface range fastethernet 5/4 - 5 (Note: Space is mandatory.)
Switch(config-if)# no channel-group 1
Switch(config-if)# end
Removing an EtherChannel
If you remove an EtherChannel, the member ports are shut down and removed from the Channel group.
Note You must remove an EtherChannel before changing a port from Layer 2 to Layer 3, or Layer 3 to Layer 2.
Command Purpose
Step 1 Switch(config)# no interface port-channel Removes the port-channel interface.
port_channel_number
Step 2 Switch(config)# end Exits configuration mode.
Step 3 Switch# show etherchannel summary Verifies the configuration.