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Catalyst2950 and Catalyst2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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Chapter31 Configuring EtherChannels Understanding EtherChannels
Note An Etherchannel cannot be configured in both the PAgP and LACP modes.

Exchanging LACP Packets

Both the active and passive LACP modes allow interfaces to negotiate with partner interfaces to
determine if they can form an EtherChannel based on criteria such as interface speed and, for Layer2
EtherChannels, trunking state and VLAN numbers.
Interfaces can form an EtherChannel when they are in different LACP modes as long as the modes are
compatible. For example:
•An interface in the active mode can form an EtherChannel with another interface th at is in the active
or passive mode.
•An interface in the active mode can form an EtherChannel with another interface in the passive
mode.
An interface in the passive mode cannot form an EtherChannel wit h a nother interface that is also in the
passive mode because neither interface starts LACP negotiation.
An interface in the on mode that is added to a port channel is forced to have the same characteristics as
the already existing on mode interfaces in the channel.
Note An Etherchannel cannot be configured in both the PAgP and LACP modes.
Caution You should exercise care when setting the mode to on (manual configuration). All ports configured in
the on mode are bundled in the same group and ar e f o rc ed to h ave similar characteristics. If the group is
misconfigured, packet loss or spanning-tree loops might occur.
Physical Learners and Aggregate-Port Learners
Network devices are classified as PAgP physical learners or aggregate-port learners. A device is a
physical learner if it learns addresses by physical ports and directs transmissi ons ba sed o n that
knowledge. A device is an aggregate-port learner if it learns addresses by aggregate (logical) ports.
When a device and its partner are both aggregate-port learners, they learn the address on the logical
port-channel. The device sends packets to the source by using any of the interface s in the EtherChannel.
With aggregate-port learning, it is not important on whi ch phy sica l po rt t he pa ck et a rri ves.
The switch uses source-MAC address distribution for a channel if it is connected to a physical learner
even if you configure the switch for destination-MAC address distribution.
These frame distribution mechanisms are possible for frame transmission:
•Port selection based on the source-MAC address of the packet
•Port selection based on the destination- MAC address of the packet
The switch supports up to eight ports in a PAgP group.