CHAPTER
24-1
Cisco Systems IntelligentGigabit Ethernet Switch Modules for the IBM BladeCenter, Software Configuration Guide
24R9746
24
Configuring EtherChannels and Layer 2 Trunk Failover
This chapter describes how to configure EtherChannel on the switch Layer 2 interfaces and Layer 2 trunk
failover on Cisco Systems Intelligent Gigabit Ethernet Switch Modules.
This chapter consists of these sections:
•Understanding EtherChannels, page 24-1
•EtherChannel On Mode, page 24-6
•Configuring EtherChannels, page 24-8
•Displaying EtherChannel, PAgP, and LACP Status, page 24-15
•Understanding Layer 2 Trunk Failover, page 24-15
•Configuring Layer 2 Trunk Failover, page 24-16
•Displaying Layer 2 Trunk Failover Status, page 24-18
Note For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, see the command
reference for this release.

Understanding EtherChannels

EtherChannel provides fault-tolerant high-speed links between switches, routers, an d servers. You can
use it to increase the bandwidth among 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.
An EtherChannel consists of individual Gigabit Ethernet links bundled i nto a single logical link as
shown in Figure 24-1. The EtherChannel provides up to 4 Gbps (Gigabit EtherChannel) full-duplex
bandwidth between your switch and another switch or host.