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Cisco ME 3400 EthernetAccess Switch SoftwareConfiguration Guide
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Chapter31 Configuring EtherChannels
Understanding EtherChannels
Link Aggregation Control Protocol
The LACP is defined in IEEE 802.3ad standard and enables Cisco switches to manage Ethernet channels
between switches that conform to the standard. LACP facilitates the automatic creation of
EtherChannels by exchanging LACP packets between Ethernet ports.
Note LACP is available only on NNIs.
By using LACP, the switch learns the identity of partners capable of supporting LACP and the
capabilities of each port. It then dynamically groups similarly configured ports into a si ngle lo gical link
(channel or aggregate port). Similarly configured ports are grouped based on hardware, administrative,
and port parameter constraints. For example, LACP groups the ports with the same spee d, duplex mode,
native VLAN, VLAN range, and trunking status and type. After grouping the links into an EtherChannel,
LACP adds the group to the spanning tree as a single switch port.

LACP Modes

Table31-2 shows the use r-configurab le Ethe rC han nel LACP modes fo r t he c hannel-group interface
configuration command on an NNI.
Both the active and passive LACP modes enable ports to ne gotiate with partn er ports to an EtherChannel
based on criteria such as port speed and, for Layer 2 EtherChannels, trunking state and VLAN numbers.
Ports can form an EtherChannel when they are in different LACP modes as long as the modes are
compatible. For example:
•A port in the active mode can form an EtherChannel with another port that is in the active or passive
mode.
•A port in the passive mode cannot form an EtherChannel with another port that is also in the passive
mode because neither port starts LACP negotiation.

LACP Interaction with Other Features

The CDP sends and receives packets over the physical ports in the EtherChannel. Trunk ports send and
receive LACP PDUs on the lowest numbered VLAN.
In Layer 2 EtherChannels, the first port in the channel tha t c omes up provide s its MAC address t o the
EtherChannel. If this port is removed from the bundle, one of the remaining ports in the bundle pr ovides
its MAC address to the EtherChannel.
LACP sends and receives LACP PDUs only from p orts that ar e up and ha v e LA CP enab led for the ac ti ve
or passive mode.
Table31-2 EtherChannel LACP Modes
Mode Description
active Places a port into an active negotiating state in which the port sta rts nego tiations with other
ports by sending LACP packets.
passive Places a port into a passive negotiating state in which the port responds to LACP packets
that it receives, but does not start LACP packet negotiation. This setting minimizes the
transmission of LACP packets.