Information About Portchannels; Portchannels Overview; E Portchannels - Cisco MDS 9000 Series Configuration Manual

Configuring PortChannels

Information About PortChannels

PortChannels Overview

PortChannels refer to the aggregation of multiple physical interfaces into one logical interface to provide
higher aggregated bandwidth, load balancing, and link redundancy (see
on page
module cannot bring down the PortChannel link.
Figure 10: PortChannel Flexibility
PortChannels on Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Switches allow flexibility in configuration. This illustrates
three possible PortChannel configurations:
• PortChannel A aggregates two links on two interfaces on the same switching module at each end of a
• PortChannel B also aggregates two links, but each link is connected to a different switching module. If
• PortChannel C aggregates three links. Two links are on the same switching module at each end, while

E PortChannels

An E PortChannel refers to the aggregation of multiple E ports into one logical interface to provide higher
aggregated bandwidth, load balancing, and link redundancy. PortChannels can connect to interfaces across
switching modules, so a failure of a switching module cannot bring down the PortChannel link.
A PortChannel has the following features and restrictions:
• Provides a point-to-point connection over ISL (E ports) or EISL (TE ports). Multiple links can be combined
• Increases the aggregate bandwidth on an ISL by distributing traffic among all functional links in the
• Load balances across multiple links and maintains optimum bandwidth utilization. Load balancing is
219). PortChannels can connect to interfaces across switching modules, so a failure of a switching
connection.
the switching module goes down, traffic is not affected.
one is connected to a different switching module on switch 2.
into a PortChannel.
channel.
based on the source ID, destination ID, and exchange ID (OX ID).
Cisco MDS 9000 Series Interfaces Configuration Guide, Release 8.x
Information About PortChannels
Figure 10: PortChannel Flexibility,
219