Configure an EtherChannel

An EtherChannel (also known as a port channel) can include up to 8 member interfaces of the same media type and capacity, and must be set to the same speed and duplex. The media type can be either RJ-45 or SFP; SFPs of different types (copper and fiber) can be mixed. You cannot mix interface capacities (for example 1GB and 10GB interfaces) by setting the speed to be lower on the larger-capacity interface, unless you set the speed to Detect SFP; in this case, you can use different interface capacities, and the lowest common speed is used.

The Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) aggregates interfaces by exchanging the Link Aggregation Control Protocol Data Units (LACPDUs) between two network devices. LACP coordinates the automatic addition and deletion of links to the EtherChannel without user intervention. It also handles misconfigurations and checks that both ends of member interfaces are connected to the correct channel group. “On” mode cannot use standby interfaces in the channel group when an interface goes down, and the connectivity and configurations are not checked.

When the chassis creates an EtherChannel, the EtherChannel stays in a Suspended state for Active LACP mode or a Down state for On LACP mode until you assign it to a logical device, even if the physical link is up. The EtherChannel will be brought out of this Suspended state when it is added to an instance.

Before you begin

Enable physical interfaces and set hardware parameters. See Configure a Physical Interface.

Procedure

Step 1

From Devices > Device Management, click Manage in the Chassis column or click Edit (edit icon).

Manage Chassis
Manage Chassis

The Chassis Manager page opens for the chassis to the Summary page.

Step 2

Click Interfaces.

Interfaces
Interfaces

Step 3

Click Add > EtherChannel Interface.

Add EtherChannel
Add EtherChannel

Step 4

Set the following Interfaces parameters.

Interfaces Settings
Interfaces Settings

  1. For the EtherChannel ID, specify an ID between 1 and 48.

  2. Check Enabled.

  3. For the Port Type, choose Data or Data Shared.

    For information about the port type, see Interface Types.

  4. To add a physical interface to the EtherChannel, select click Add (add icon) in the Available Interfaces list to move it to the Selected Interfaces list.

    To add or remove all interfaces, click the double arrow button.

    Note

    You cannot add an interface that is already assigned to an instance.

Step 5

(Optional) Set the following Configuration parameters.

Many of these settings (excluding the LACP settings) set the requirements for interfaces to be included in the EtherChannel; they do not override the settings of member interfaces. So if you check LLDP Transmit, for example, you should only add interfaces that have that setting. If you set the Admin Speed to 1Gbps, then only 1Gbps interfaces can be included.

Configuration Settings
Configuration Settings

  1. Choose the required Admin Duplex for the member interfaces, Full Duplex or Half Duplex.

    If you add a member interface that is configured with the specified duplex, it will not successfully join the port channel.

  2. Choose the required Admin Speed for the member interfaces from the drop-down list.

    If you add a member interface that is not at the specified speed, it will not successfully join the port channel.

  3. Choose the LACP Mode, Active or On.

    • Active—Sends and receives LACP updates. An active EtherChannel can establish connectivity with either an active or a passive EtherChannel. You should use the active mode unless you need to minimize the amount of LACP traffic.

    • On—The EtherChannel is always on, and LACP is not used. An “on” EtherChannel can only establish a connection with another “on” EtherChannel.

    Note

    It may take up to three minutes for an EtherChannel to come up to an operational state if you change its mode from On to Active or from Active to On.

  4. Choose the LACP Rate, Default, Fast, or Normal.

    The default is Fast.

  5. Choose the required Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) settings for member interfaces by checking LLDP Transmit and/or LLDP Receive.

  6. Check the required Flow Control Send setting for member interfaces.

Step 6

Click Save and then Save in the top right of the Interfaces page.

You can now Deploy the policy to the chassis. The changes are not active until you deploy them.