This article is all about how to configure LACP (Link Aggregation or Ether Channel) on Cisco switches. The term link aggregation applies to various methods of combining (aggregating) multiple network connections in parallel in order to increase throughput beyond what a single sustain and also use to provide redundancy in case one of the links should fail. A link aggregation group (LAG) combines a number of physical ports together to make a single high-bandwidth data path.
Actually, link aggregation or Ether Channel is a technology very similar to PAgP which allows two or more than two physical ports to combine and provide a new third single logical port which results in high availability and increased bandwidth. So, now let’s start here how to configure LACP on Cisco switches.
We can also configure Ether Channel on Cisco switches using
Now to understand this whole process we take lab in cisco packet tracer. In this lab, we take two switches on which we configure LACP or EtherChannel.
We do this whole lab in two parts. In the first part, we configure LACP on both the switches and in the second part we run troubleshooting commands on the switches and verify our configuration.
Now configure LACP on both the switches using below-given command
For switch S1
Switch>enable Switch#configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. Switch(config)#hostname S1 S1(config)#interface range fa0/1-2 S1(config-if-range)#channel-group 1 mode active S1(config-if-range)# Creating a port-channel interface Port-channel 1 %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/1, changed state to down %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/1, changed state to up %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/2, changed state to down %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/2, changed state to up S1(config-if-range)#channel-protocol lacp S1(config-if-range)#exit
For switch S2
Switch>enable Switch#configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. Switch(config)#hostname S2 S2(config)#interface range fa0/1-2 S2(config-if-range)#channel-group 1 mode active S2(config-if-range)# Creating a port-channel interface Port-channel 1 %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/1, changed state to down %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/1, changed state to up %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/2, changed state to down %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/2, changed state to up %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Port-channel 1, changed state to up %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Port-channel 1, changed state to up S2(config-if-range)#channel-protocol lacp S2(config-if-range)#exit
Now we run troubleshooting command and verify our configuration on both the switches
For switch S1
S1#show etherchannel summary Flags: D - down P - in port-channel I - stand-alone s - suspended H - Hot-standby (LACP only) R - Layer3 S - Layer2 U - in use f - failed to allocate aggregator u - unsuitable for bundling w - waiting to be aggregated d - default port Number of channel-groups in use: 1 Number of aggregators: 1 Group Port-channel Protocol Ports ------+-------------+-----------+---------------------------------------------- 1 Po1(SU) LACP Fa0/1(P) Fa0/2(P)
For switch S2
S2#show etherchannel summary Flags: D - down P - in port-channel I - stand-alone s - suspended H - Hot-standby (LACP only) R - Layer3 S - Layer2 U - in use f - failed to allocate aggregator u - unsuitable for bundling w - waiting to be aggregated d - default port Number of channel-groups in use: 1 Number of aggregators: 1 Group Port-channel Protocol Ports ------+-------------+-----------+---------------------------------------------- 1 Po1(SU) LACP Fa0/1(P) Fa0/2(P)
THAT’S IT
This is the whole process by which we can easily configure LACP or EtherChannel on Cisco switches. Now If you have any queries regarding this then simply solved out through the comment section and also provide feedback to us. Because your feedback is valuable to us.