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Link Aggregation

Link aggregation allows multiple physical links to be bundled together to form a single logical channel (EtherChannel) between two devices. This provides load balancing over redundant paths and ensures configuration consistency. EtherChannel relies on existing switch ports and uses protocols like PAgP (Cisco) and LACP (IEEE standard) to automatically negotiate link aggregation. Settings configured on the EtherChannel interface apply to all member ports.

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Andre Sato Pesons
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86 views

Link Aggregation

Link aggregation allows multiple physical links to be bundled together to form a single logical channel (EtherChannel) between two devices. This provides load balancing over redundant paths and ensures configuration consistency. EtherChannel relies on existing switch ports and uses protocols like PAgP (Cisco) and LACP (IEEE standard) to automatically negotiate link aggregation. Settings configured on the EtherChannel interface apply to all member ports.

Uploaded by

Andre Sato Pesons
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Link Aggregation

What is Link Aggregation?


>ability to create one logical link using
multiple physical links between two
devices
>allows load sharing among physical links,
compared to STP where it blocks one or
more of the links
>EtherChannel is the technology used for
link aggregation

Advantages of EtherChannel
>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. Depending on the hardware
platform, one or more load-balancing methods can be
implemented. These methods include source MAC to
destination MAC load balancing, or source IP to
destination IP load balancing, across the physical links.

Advantages of 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
3 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; therefore a spanning tree recalculation is not required.
Assuming at least one physical link is present; the EtherChannel remains functional,
even if its overall throughput decreases because of a lost link within the EtherChannel.

EtherChannel Restrictions
>Bandwidth up to 800 Mbps (Fast
EthernetChannel)/8 Gbps (Gigabit
EtherChannel)
>An EtherChannel link can consist of up to
8 physical links
>Cisco IOS switches supports up to 6
EtherChannels

Port Aggregation Protocols


PAgP (Port Aggregation Protocol)
Cisco Proprietary
aids in the automatic creation of
EtherChannel links
manages the Ethernet Channel
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

Port Aggregation Protocols


PAgP modes
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.

Port Aggregation Protocols


LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol)
IEEE specification (802.3ad)
allows several physical ports to be bundled to
form a single logical channel
allows a switch to negotiate an automatic
bundle by sending LACP packets to the peer
Because LACP is an IEEE standard, it can be
used to facilitate EtherChannels in
multivendor environments. On Cisco devices,
both protocols are supported.

Port Aggregation Protocols


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.

Summary

EtherChannel aggregates multiple switched links together to load


balance over redundant paths between two devices. All ports in one
EtherChannel must have the same speed, duplex setting, and VLAN
information on all interfaces on the devices at both ends. Settings
configured in the port channel interface configuration mode will also
be applied to the individual interfaces in that EtherChannel. Settings
configured on individual interfaces will not be applied to the
EtherChannel or to the other interfaces in the EtherChannel.
PAgP is a Cisco-proprietary protocol that aids in the automatic
creation of EtherChannel links. PAgP modes are on, PAgP
desirable, and PAgP auto. LACP is part of an IEEE specification that
also allows multiple physical ports to be bundled into one logical
channel. The LACP modes are on, LACP active and LACP passive.
PAgP and LACP do not interoperate. The on mode is repeated in
both PAgP and LACP because it creates an EtherChannel
unconditionally, without the use of PAgP or LACP. The default for
EtherChannel is that no mode is configured.

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