What is Ether Channel. You might be believing that Oklahoma, there is an Ethernet nexus that would be connected between a router or a switch and supplying a channel for the communicating or Lashkar-e-Taibas say informations transmittal. Well if yes, so, you are right. Amazed? But there is a something interesting that makes it a broad construct and more than merely a communicating channel.

How? Without farther bustle Lashkar-e-Taiba ‘s start so.Ether channel combines multiple single links, supplying a logical nexus. Simple right?This logical nexus is able to supply up to 16Gbps of bandwidth ( Known as Gigabit Ether Channel ) or 1600Mbps of bandwidth ( Known as Fast ether Channel ) between two Cisco Catalyst Switches.

But please note that the all of the interfaces taking portion in making an Ether Channel should be configured as of same velocity and semidetached house along with the both terminals configured as Layer 2 or Layer 3 interface.Ok, now what happens if one of the links in the quintessence channel fails? Any conjectures? Well, if any of the links fail on the quintessence channel, the traffic flows on the staying links.Now let ‘s talk about the protocols that provide the nexus collection in this all apparatus. There are two of the protocols provided that is responsible for the formation of EtherChannel.Port Aggregation Protocol ( PAgP ) – This is a Cisco proprietary protocolLink Aggregation Protocol ( LACP ) – This is the IEEE criterionPagP is really interesting and candidly you are traveling to love it excessively.

What it is making is, PAgP packages are sent over the fast Ethernet links to negociate the forming of a nexus ( Fast Ether Channel Link ) . When our PAgP identifies matched Ethernet nexus, it creates a EtherChannel by grouping the links. EtherChannel is so added to the crossing tree as a individual span port as we do n’t desire to deluge the web and want to utilize the EtherChannel expeditiously.

PAgP has three manners of operation ;( I ) Auto ( two ) Desirable ( three ) OnMode – Car: Topographic points an interface into a inactive negotiating province, in which the interface responds to PAgP packages it receives but does non get down PAgP package dialogue. This scene minimizes the transmittal of PAgP packages and is the default.Mode – Desirable: Topographic points an interface into an active negotiating province, in which the interface starts dialogues with other interfaces by directing PAgP packages.Mode – On: Forces the interface to impart without PAgP.

With the on manner, a useable EtherChannel exists merely when an interface group in the on manner is connected to another interface group in the on manner.So much for PAgP for now. Let ‘s look into LACP and see what it can make.LACP is portion of an IEEE specification. It allows several physical ports to be combined together to organize a individual logical channel. LACP allows a switch to negociate an automatic package by directing LACP packages to the equal. It performs a similar map as PAgP with Cisco EtherChannel.

Because LACP is an IEEE criterion, it can be used to ease EtherChannel in mixed-switch environments.Merely like PAgP, our LACP besides comes with three manners of operation which are ;I ) Auto ( two ) Desirable ( three ) OnMode – Car: he exchange does non originate the channel, but does understand incoming LACP packages. The equal ( in active province ) initiates dialogue ( by directing out an LACP package ) which we receive and reply to, finally organizing the collection channel with the equal. This is similar to the car manner in PAgP.Mode – Desirable: We are willing to organize an aggregative nexus, and originate the dialogue. The nexus sum will be formed if the other terminal is running in LACP active or inactive manner.

This is similar to the desirable manner of PAgP.Mode – On: The nexus collection is forced to be formed without any LACP dialogue.In other words, the switch will neither direct the LACP package nor procedure any incoming LACP package. This is similar to the on province for PAgP.Ok eventually we are done with the theory. Now here comes the fun portion. Yes you are right the constellation portion and I love it every bit much as you do. Before the constellation, delight note that we can configure EtherChannel as Layer2 and Layer3, So we will get down with the constellation of Layer2 and so Layer3.

Layer2 EtherChannel Configuration

In this illustration we will configure Switch1 as in the active manner and switch2 in the inactive manner while making EtherChannel and for that we have to make a new VLAN e.g. VLAN-30 and the interfaces 0/1-3 on both of the switches are traveling to in this VLAN.

Switch ( config ) # hostname Switch1-Layer2-EtherChannelSwitch1-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config ) # vlan 30Switch1-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-vlan ) # name ETHER-CHANNELSwitch1-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-vlan ) # issueSwitch1-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config ) # inter rang fastEthernet 0/1-3Switch1-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-if-range ) # switchport manner entreeSwitch1-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-if-range ) # switchport entree vlan 30Switch1-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-if-range ) # channel-protocol lacpSwitch1-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-if-range ) # channel-group 1 manner?active Enable LACP unconditionallycar Enable PAgP merely if a PAgP device is detecteddesirable Enable PAgP unconditionallyon Enable Etherchannel merelyinactive Enable LACP merely if a LACP device is detectedSwitch1-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-if-range ) # channel-group 1 manners active% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/1, changed province to toss off% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/1, changed province to up% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/2, changed province to toss off% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/2, changed province to up% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/3, changed province to toss off% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/3, changed province to upThis is all that we have to make on the Switch-1. Now let ‘s travel on to Switch-2 which is traveling to be in the ‘Passive ‘ manner for the channel-group.Switch ( config ) # hostname Switch2-Layer2-EtherChannelSwitch2-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config ) # vlan 30Switch2-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-vlan ) # name ETHER-CHANNELSwitch2-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-vlan ) # issueSwitch2-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config ) # inter rang fastEthernet 0/1-3Switch2-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-if-range ) # switchport manner entreeSwitch2-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-if-range ) # switchport entree vlan 30Switch2-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-if-range ) # channel-protocol lacpSwitch2-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-if-range ) # channel-group 1 manner?active Enable LACP unconditionallycar Enable PAgP merely if a PAgP device is detecteddesirable Enable PAgP unconditionallyon Enable Etherchannel merelyinactive Enable LACP merely if a LACP device is detectedSwitch2-Layer2-EtherChannel ( config-if-range ) # channel-group 1 manner passive% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/1, changed province to toss off% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/1, changed province to up% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/2, changed province to toss off% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/2, changed province to up% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/3, changed province to toss off% LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/3, changed province to upVery well now we are done with the constellation of Layer2 Ether Channel.

Layer3 EtherChannel Configuration

In this instance we will configure PAgP on Switch-1 with “ Mode- Desirable ” and on Switch-2 there is traveling to be “ Mode- Auto ” . You might be believing why this is go oning? Why non configuring Auto-Auto or Desirable-Desirable? The reply is that, to configure link collection, Switch-1 and Switch-2 should be Desirable-Auto severally. Now let ‘s do the constellations:Switch1-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL # configure terminusSwitch1-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config ) # interface port-channel 1Switch1-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if ) # no switchportSwitch1-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if ) # ip reference 172.

16.1.11 255.255.255.0Switch1-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if ) # issueSwitch1-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config ) # interface scope fa 0/1 -3Switch1-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if-range ) # no switchportSwitch1-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if-range ) # no information science referenceSwitch1-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if-range ) # channel-group 1 manner desirableSwitch1-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if-range ) # terminalSwitch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL # configure terminusSwitch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config ) # interface port-channel 1Switch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if ) # no switchportSwitch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if ) # ip reference 172.

16.1.12 255.255.255.

0Switch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if ) # terminalSwitch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL # configure terminusSwitch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config ) # interface scope fastethernet0/0 -2Switch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if-range ) # no switchportSwitch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if-range ) # no information science referenceSwitch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if-range ) # channel-group 1 mode carSwitch2-Layer3-ETHERCHANNEL ( config-if-range ) # issueThis is all that we have to make on both switches. Please note that we have to put to death the bid of “ no switchport ” on Switch1 and Switch2 to pass through from Layer2 EtherChannel to Layer3 manner. To verify the EtherChannel, run the bid “ show etherchannel ” .

It will demo you the port-channel information and is of import from the trouble-shooting point of position if you mess up the constellations. Oh! We forgot the most of import thing. No this is non what you are believing trust me. The most of import thing is to “ Salvage ” the constellations i?S . Cheers.