Cisco WS-C4003 Software Guide - Page 81

Understanding Frame Distribution

Page 81 highlights

Chapter 6 Configuring Fast EtherChannel and Gigabit EtherChannel Understanding How EtherChannel Works There are four user-configurable channel modes: on, off, auto, and desirable. PAgP packets are exchanged only between ports in auto and desirable mode. Ports configured in on or off mode do not exchange PAgP packets. The auto and desirable modes can be modified with the silent and non-silent keywords. Table 6-1 describes each mode. Table 6-1 Channel Modes Mode on off auto desirable Description Forces the port to channel without negotiation. PAgP packets are not exchanged. The port is channeling regardless of how the peer port is configured. If the peer port is in on mode, a channel is formed. In any other mode, the peer port is placed in the errdisable state due to a channel misconfiguration. Prevents the port from channeling. PAgP packets are not exchanged. The port is not channeling regardless of how the peer port is configured. No channel is formed. Places a port into a passive negotiating state, in which the port responds to PAgP packets it receives but does not initiate PAgP packet negotiation. A channel is formed only with another port group in desirable mode. (Default) Places a port into an active negotiating state, in which the port initiates negotiations with other ports by sending PAgP packets. A channel is formed with another port group in either desirable or auto mode. Use the silent keyword when you are connecting to a "silent partner" (a device that is not generating BPDUs or other traffic). An example of a silent partner is a traffic generator that is not transmitting packets. Use this keyword with the auto or desirable mode. If you do not specify silent or non-silent, silent is assumed. Use the non-silent keyword when you are connecting to a device that will transmit BPDUs or other traffic. Use this keyword with the auto or desirable mode. Both the auto and desirable modes allow ports to negotiate with connected ports to determine if they can form a channel, based on criteria such as port speed, trunking state, native VLAN, and so on. Ports can form an EtherChannel when they are in different channel modes as long as the modes are compatible. For example: • A port in desirable mode can form an EtherChannel successfully with another port that is in desirable or auto mode. • A port in auto mode can form an EtherChannel with another port in desirable mode. • A port in auto mode cannot form an EtherChannel with another port that is also in auto mode, since neither port will initiate negotiation. • A port in on mode can form a channel only with a port in on mode, because ports in on mode do not exchange PAgP packets. • A port in off mode will not form a channel with any port. Understanding Frame Distribution EtherChannel distributes frames across the links in a channel based on the low-order bits of the source and destination Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of each frame. The frame distribution method is not configurable. 78-12647-02 Software Configuration Guide-Catalyst 4000 Family, Catalyst 2948G, Catalyst 2980G, Releases 6.3 and 6.4 6-3

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6-3
Software Configuration Guide—Catalyst 4000 Family, Catalyst 2948G, Catalyst 2980G, Releases 6.3 and 6.4
78-12647-02
Chapter 6
Configuring Fast EtherChannel and Gigabit EtherChannel
Understanding How EtherChannel Works
There are four user-configurable channel modes:
on
,
off
,
auto
, and
desirable
. PAgP packets are
exchanged only between ports in
auto
and
desirable
mode. Ports configured in
on
or
off
mode do not
exchange PAgP packets. The
auto
and
desirable
modes can be modified with the
silent
and
non-silent
keywords.
Table 6-1
describes each mode.
Both the
auto
and
desirable
modes allow ports to negotiate with connected ports to determine if they
can form a channel, based on criteria such as port speed, trunking state, native VLAN, and so on.
Ports can form an EtherChannel when they are in different channel modes as long as the modes are
compatible. For example:
A port in
desirable
mode can form an EtherChannel successfully with another port that is in
desirable
or
auto
mode.
A port in
auto
mode can form an EtherChannel with another port in
desirable
mode.
A port in
auto
mode cannot form an EtherChannel with another port that is also in
auto
mode, since
neither port will initiate negotiation.
A port in
on
mode can form a channel only with a port in
on
mode, because ports in
on
mode do not
exchange PAgP packets.
A port in
off
mode will not form a channel with any port.
Understanding Frame Distribution
EtherChannel distributes frames across the links in a channel based on the low-order bits of the source
and destination Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of each frame. The frame distribution method
is not configurable.
Table 6-1
Channel Modes
Mode
Description
on
Forces the port to channel without negotiation. PAgP packets are not exchanged.
The port is channeling regardless of how the peer port is configured. If the peer port
is in
on
mode, a channel is formed. In any other mode, the peer port is placed in the
errdisable state due to a channel misconfiguration.
off
Prevents the port from channeling. PAgP packets are not exchanged. The port is not
channeling regardless of how the peer port is configured. No channel is formed.
auto
Places a port into a passive negotiating state, in which the port responds to PAgP
packets it receives but does not initiate PAgP packet negotiation. A channel is
formed only with another port group in
desirable
mode. (Default)
desirable
Places a port into an active negotiating state, in which the port initiates negotiations
with other ports by sending PAgP packets. A channel is formed with another port
group in either
desirable
or
auto
mode.
Use the
silent
keyword when you are connecting to a “silent partner” (a device that
is not generating BPDUs or other traffic). An example of a silent partner is a traffic
generator that is not transmitting packets. Use this keyword with the
auto
or
desirable
mode. If you do not specify
silent
or
non-silent
, silent is assumed.
Use the
non-silent
keyword when you are connecting to a device that will transmit
BPDUs or other traffic. Use this keyword with the
auto
or
desirable
mode.