Creating A San Port Channel; About Port Channel Modes - Cisco Nexus 5500 Series NX-OS Configuration Manual

Configuring SAN Port Channels

Creating a SAN Port Channel

To create a SAN port channel, perform this task:
Procedure
Step 1
Step 2

About Port Channel Modes

You can configure each SAN port channel with a channel group mode parameter to determine the port channel
protocol behavior for all member ports in this channel group. The possible values for a channel group mode
are as follows:
• On (default)—The member ports only operate as part of a SAN port channel or remain inactive. In this
mode, the port channel protocol is not initiated. However, if a port channel protocol frame is received
from a peer port, the software indicates its nonnegotiable status. Port channels configured in the On
mode require you to explicitly enable and disable the port channel member ports at either end if you add
or remove ports from the port channel configuration. You must physically verify that the local and
remote ports are connected to each other.
• Active—The member ports initiate port channel protocol negotiation with the peer port(s) regardless of
the channel group mode of the peer port. If the peer port, while configured in a channel group, does not
support the port channel protocol, or responds with a nonnegotiable status, it will default to the On mode
behavior. The Active port channel mode allows automatic recovery without explicitly enabling and
disabling the port channel member ports at either end.
Note
The table below compares On and Active modes.
Cisco Nexus 5500 Series NX-OS SAN Switching Configuration Guide, Release 7.x
100
• If the trunk mode is enabled for any of the interfaces, or if the NP port channel is up, the reserved
VSANs range from 3840 to 4078, which are not available for user configuration.
• The Exchange Virtual Fabric Protocol (EVFP) isolated VSAN is 4079, and it is not available for
user configuration.
Command or Action
switch# configure terminal
switch(config)# interface
san-port-channel
channel-number
A F port channel is supported only in Active Mode.
Purpose
Enters global configuration mode.
Creates the specified SAN port channel using the default mode
(on). The SAN port channel number is in the range of 1 to 256.
Note Enter an unused channel number to create a new SAN
port channel (for Fibre Channel ports). To view the
range of used and unused channel numbers use the
show san-port-channel usage command.
Configuring SAN Port Channels
OL-30895-01