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EtherChannel Technology (Redundancy Connection in A Network)

EtherChannel is a technology that combines multiple physical interfaces into a single logical link to provide redundancy and increased bandwidth in networks. It supports protocols like Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) and Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) for configuring these links. The advantages of EtherChannel include enhanced bandwidth, redundancy, and load balancing across network connections.

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5 views7 pages

EtherChannel Technology (Redundancy Connection in A Network)

EtherChannel is a technology that combines multiple physical interfaces into a single logical link to provide redundancy and increased bandwidth in networks. It supports protocols like Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) and Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) for configuring these links. The advantages of EtherChannel include enhanced bandwidth, redundancy, and load balancing across network connections.

Uploaded by

runrun2799900
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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You are on page 1/ 7

EtherChannel Technology (Redundancy connection in a network)

Network engineers love redundancy in a network; it allows for lines to fail without
affecting the connection to the internet for end users. What’s even better is that using
EtherChannel technologies, we can make redundant links and use them to increase the
speed to local servers on site.

--| Conceptions |--

What is EtherChannel and Why Do We Need It?

EtherChannel is a technology wherein we bundle physical interfaces together to create


a single logical link. It is also known as Link Aggregation. It provides fault-tolerant and
high-speed links between Cisco switches and routers and is often seen in the backbone
network. The approved open standard is called 802.3ad, which works with other
vendors and is often called LAG.

How Does EtherChannel Work?

We can assign up to 16 physical interfaces to an EtherChannel, but only 8 interfaces can


be active at a time. You can form EtherChannel between two, four, or eight active Fast,
Gigabit, or 10-Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, with an additional one to eight inactive
interfaces which can become active as the other interfaces fail.

To create an EtherChannel, all of the interfaces should have:

1. Same Duplex
2. Same Speed
3. Same VLAN Configuration (Ex. native VLAN and allowed VLAN should be same)
4. Switch Port Modes should be the same (Access or Trunk Mode)

The 2 Etherchannel Protocols

Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP): is a Cisco proprietary EtherChannel protocol where


we can combine a maximum of 8 physical links into a single virtual link.

Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP): is an IEEE 802.3ad standard where we can
combine up to 8 ports that can be active and another 8 ports that can be in standby
mode.

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Why Do We Need EtherChannel?

Below are the advantages and benefits of implementing EtherChannel on our networks:

Increased Bandwidth
In our network planning, we always take into account the cost. For example, our
company needs more than 100 Mbps bandwidth, but our hardware only supports Fast
Ethernet (100 Mbps). In this case, we can opt not to upgrade the hardware by
implementing EtherChannel.

Redundancy
Since more than one physical connection is combined into one logical connection,
EtherChannel enables more available links in instances where one or more links go
down.

Load Balancing
With load balancing, we are able to balance the traffic load across the links and
improves the efficient use of bandwidth.

EtherChannel Terminologies

 EtherChannel: A port-channel architecture that groups together multiple


physical Ethernet links into a single logical link that provides fault-tolerant,
high-speed, and redundant links between switches and other network
devices.

 Spanning Tree Protocol: Is a data link layer protocol that prevents loops in
networks with redundant links.

 Port-Channel: This refers to communication links between switches that


combine multiple ethernet ports bandwidth into a single logical link.

 Channel Group: A collection of ethernet interfaces on a single switch.

Page 2 of 7
Port Aggregation Protocol (PAGP)

Port Aggregation Protocol (PAGP) is a cisco-based protocol and runs on vendor-licensed


switches that support PAGP. It facilitates the automatic creation of ether channel links
by detecting the link configuration on each side and ensuring the links are compatible
for forming an ether channel link.

It works in three-channel modes:

1. On-interfaces - In this mode, there is no exchange of PAGP packets.


2. Desirable interfaces - Desirable mode, interfaces negotiate with each other by
sending PAGP packets.
3. Auto-here interfaces - Respond to PAgp packets but cannot start a negotiation
with other interfaces.

SW-1 Mode SW-2 Mode EtherChannel Formation


On On YES
On Desirable or Auto NO
Desirable Desirable or Auto YES
Auto Desirable YES

NOTE: For an ether channel to form, the modes must be compatible on either side of
the links. The table below shows different mode combinations that can form ether
channel links.

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Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)

Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is like the PAGP protocol, but it is an open
standard protocol and facilitates ether channels’ configuration in multi-vendor
environments. Not limited to cisco switches only; it allows both active links and standby
links.

It works in three modes:

1. On-interfaces - In this mode, there is no exchange of LACP packets.


2. Active-interfaces - Active mode, interfaces negotiate with each other through the
sending of LACP packets.
3. Passive-interfaces - Respond to LACP packets received but cannot start a
negotiation with other interfaces.

The table below shows various mode combinations that can form ether channel links
with LACP.

SW-1 Mode SW-2 Mode EtherChannel Formation


On On YES
On Active or Passive NO
Active Active or Passive YES
Passive Active YES
Passive Passive NO

NOTE: Active links are the ether channel links currently transmitting the traffic. When
one of the currently active links goes down, the Standby links become active and takes
over.

Page 4 of 7
--| Configuration |--

SW-01 Configuration
SW-01>
SW-01>en
SW-01#configure terminal
SW-01(config)#interface range gigabitEthernet 0/1-2
SW-01(config-if-range)#switchport mode trunk
SW-01(config-if-range)#channel-protocol pagp
SW-01(config-if-range)#channel-group 1 mode desirable
SW-01(config-if-range)#exit
SW-01(config)#exit
SW-01#wr
Building configuration...
[OK]
SW-01#

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SW-02 Configuration

SW-01>
SW-01>en
SW-01#configure terminal
SW-01(config)#interface range gigabitEthernet 0/1-2
SW-01(config-if-range)#switchport mode trunk
SW-01(config-if-range)#channel-protocol pagp
SW-02(config-if-range)#channel-group 1 mode auto
SW-01(config-if-range)#exit
SW-01(config)#exit
SW-01#wr
Building configuration...
[OK]
SW-01#

Page 6 of 7
--| Confirmation |--

Packet Tracer PC Command Line 1.0


C:\>ping 192.168.10.3

Pinging 192.168.10.3 with 32 bytes of data:


Reply from 192.168.10.3: bytes=32 time=16ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.10.3: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

SW-01#show ip interface brief

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