Cisco Systems ME 3400 Configuring EtherChannels and Link-State Tracking

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Cisco ME 3400 Ethernet Access Switch Software Configuration Guide

OL-9639-06

Configuring EtherChannels and Link-State Tracking

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 between

switches, 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. This chapter also describes how to configure link-state tracking. The

switch must be running the metro IP access or metro access image to support link-state tracking.

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 34-1

• Configuring EtherChannels, page 34-9

• Displaying EtherChannel, PAgP, and LACP Status, page 34-22

• Understanding Link-State Tracking, page 34-22

• Configuring Link-State Tracking, page 34-24

• Displaying Link-State Tracking Status, page 34-25

These sections describe how EtherChannels work:

• EtherChannel Overview, page 34-2

• Port-Channel Interfaces, page 34-3

• Port Aggregation Protocol, page 34-4

• Link Aggregation Control Protocol, page 34-6

• EtherChannel On Mode, page 34-7

• Load Balancing and Forwarding Methods, page 34-7