Configuring Etherchannels; Understanding Etherchannels; Etherchannel Overview - Cisco 3845 - Security Bundle Router Software Manual

Configuring EtherChannels

This chapter describes how to configure EtherChannels on Layer 2 and Layer 3 ports on the Cisco
ME 3800X and ME 3600X 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.
Although EtherChannels are not supported on ports configured with service instances, you can configure
Note
a service instance on an EtherChannel port channel.
For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, see the command
reference for this release.
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Understanding EtherChannels

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EtherChannel Overview

An EtherChannel consists of individual ports bundled into a single logical link as shown in
OL-23400-01
Understanding EtherChannels, page 28-1
Configuring EtherChannels, page 28-8
Displaying EtherChannel, PAgP, and LACP Status, page 28-20
EtherChannel Overview, page 28-1
Port-Channel Interfaces, page 28-3
Port Aggregation Protocol, page 28-4
Link Aggregation Control Protocol, page 28-5
EtherChannel On Mode, page 28-6
Load Balancing and Forwarding Methods, page 28-6
C H A P T E R
Cisco ME 3800X and 3600X Switch Software Configuration Guide
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Figure 28-1.
28-1