Ether Channel

Used to aggregate multiple physical links into a logical link called port channel. Max 8 ports can be

aggregated into 1 logical link.

STP does not work on ports that are member of a single port channel. Ether channel uses internal loop

avoidance mechanism that works in the way that a frame received on a physical port that is a member

of a port channel will not be broadcasted to the other physical ports that are member of the same port

channel.

STP works on multiple port channels.

Requirements

Speed of the ports forming port channel must match

Duplex must match

Ethernet standard must match

Trunk encapsulation protocol must match

Trunk allowed VLAN list much match

Native VLAN must match

If speed of the link is 400 mbps then throughput will be 800 mbps for a full duplex link.

Load Balancing Algorithms:

1. Source MAC Address (Working by default)

Last 3 bits of the MAC Address are considered. Converted into Decimal and then to link # as per

the table below. The link # that comes out will dictate the physical port no from which the

packet should be forwarded.

2. Destination MAC Address

3. Source and Destination MAC Address

 4. Source IP Address

Last 3 bits of the IP Address are considered. Converted into Decimal and then to link # as per the

table below. The link # that comes out will dictate the physical port no from which the packet

should be forwarded.

5. Destination IP Address

6. Source and Destination IP Address

Same XOR gate usage

7. Source Port Number

8. Destination Port Number

9. Source and Destination Port Number

Ether channel does not provide 100% load balancing.

Modes:

Static -> Mode ON -> Max 8 links can be aggregated

Dynamic

PAGP (Port Aggregation Protocol) -> Modes: Desirable & Auto -> CISCO Proprietary -> Max 8 links can

be aggregated -> Silent (default, does not check) & Non-silent (checks if the link is unidirectional and

only then forms ether channel) modes

LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) -> Modes: Active (Desirable) & Passive (Auto) -> Open source

-> Max 16 links can be aggregated 8 links will be active and 8 will be standby, standby port will become

active incase any active link gets down

LACP System ID = Port Priority (32768 by default) + Base MAC Address (MAC Add of the switch)

Switch with lower LACP System ID will be elected as the main switch. And active and standby ports will

be elected based on the main switch’s decision and conveyed to the other switch.

LACP Port ID = Port Priority (32768 by default) + Interface ID (Interface no)

Port having lower LACP Port ID will become active

NOTE: Before forming ether channel, shut down the ports and then un shut them in order to avoid

forming loops.