CHAPTER
31-1
Cisco ME 3400 EthernetAccess Switch SoftwareConfiguration Guide
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Configuring EtherChannels
This chapter describes how to configure EtherChannels on Layer 2 and Layer 3 ports on the Cisco ME
3400 Ethernet Access switch. EtherChannel provides fault-tolerant high-speed links betwee n switc hes,
routers, and servers. You can use it to increase the bandwidth between the wiring closets and the data
center, and you can deploy it anywhere in the network where bottlenecks are likely to occur.
EtherChannel provides automatic recovery for the loss of a link by redistributing the load across the
remaining links. If a link fails, EtherChannel redirects traffic from the failed link to the remaining links
in the channel without intervention.
Note For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, see the command
reference for this release.
This chapter consists of these sections:
•Understanding EtherChannels, page 31-1
•Configuring EtherChannels, page 31-9
•Displaying EtherChannel, PAgP, and LACP Status, page 31-21

Understanding EtherChannels

These sections describe how EtherChannels work:
•EtherChannel Overview, page 31-2
•Port-Channel Interfaces, page 31-3
•Port Aggregation Protocol, page 31-4
•Link Aggregation Control Protocol, page 31-6
•EtherChannel On Mode, page 31-7
•Load Balancing and Forwarding Methods, page 31-7