Cisco Systems 3750E manual 37-3, Single-Switch EtherChannel

Chapter 37 Configuring EtherChannels and Link-State Tracking

Understanding EtherChannels

You can configure an EtherChannel in one of these modes: Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP), Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), or On. Configure both ends of the EtherChannel in the same mode:

•When you configure one end of an EtherChannel in either PAgP or LACP mode, the system negotiates with the other end of the channel to determine which ports should become active. If the remote port cannot negotiate an EtherChannel, the local port is put into an independent state and continues to carry data traffic as would any other single link. The port configuration does not change, but the port does not participate in the EtherChannel.

•When you configure an EtherChannel in the on mode, no negotiations take place. The switch forces all compatible ports to become active in the EtherChannel. The other end of the channel (on the other switch) must also be configured in the on mode; otherwise, packet loss can occur.

You can create an EtherChannel on a standalone switch, on a single switch in the stack, or on multiple switches in the stack (known as cross-stack EtherChannel). See Figure 37-2and Figure 37-3.

If a link within an EtherChannel fails, traffic previously carried over that failed link moves to the remaining links within the EtherChannel. If traps are enabled on the switch, a trap is sent for a failure that identifies the switch, the EtherChannel, and the failed link. Inbound broadcast and multicast packets on one link in an EtherChannel are blocked from returning on any other link of the EtherChannel.

Figure 37-2 Single-Switch EtherChannel

Catalyst 3750-E switch stack

Switch 1

Channel group 1

StackWise Plus port connections

Switch 2	Channel	Switch A
	group 2

Switch 3

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Catalyst 3750-E and 3560-E Switch Software Configuration Guide

OL-9775-02 37-3