Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON OS10 Enterprise Edition User Guide Release 10.4.3.0 - Page 156

Port-channel interfaces Port-channels are not configured by default. Link aggregation (LA) is a method of grouping multiple physical interfaces into a single logical interface - a link aggregation group (LAG) or port-channel. A port-channel aggregates the bandwidth of member links, provides redundancy, and load balances traffic. If a member port fails, the OS10 device redirects traffic to the remaining ports. A physical interface can belong to only one port-channel at a time. A port-channel must contain interfaces of the same interface type and speed. OS10 supports a maximum of 128 port-channels, with up to thirty-two ports per channel. To configure a port-channel, use the same configuration commands as the Ethernet port interfaces. Port-channels are transparent to network configurations and manage as a single interface. For example, configure one IP address for the group, and use the IP address for all routed traffic on the port-channel. By configuring port channels, you can create larger capacity interfaces by aggregating a group of lower-speed links. For example, you can build a 40G interface by aggregating four 10G Ethernet interfaces together. If one of the four interfaces fails, traffic redistributes across the three remaining interfaces. Static Dynamic Port-channels are statically configured. Port-channels are dynamically configured using Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP). Member ports of a LAG are added and programmed into the hardware based on the port ID, instead of the order the ports come up. Load balancing yields predictable results across resets and reloads. Create port-channel You can create a maximum of 128 port-channels, with up to 32 port members per group. Configure a port-channel similarly to a physical interface, enable or configure protocols, or ACLs to a port channel. After you enable the port-channel, place it in L2 or L3 mode. To place the port-channel in L2 mode or configure an IP address to place the port-channel in L3 mode, use the switchport command. • Create a port-channel in CONFIGURATION mode. interface port-channel id-number Create port-channel OS10(config)# interface port-channel 10 Add port member When you add an interface to a port-channel: • The administrative status applies to the port-channel. • The port-channel configuration is applied to the member interfaces. • A port-channel operates in either L2 (default) or L3 mode. To place a port-channel in L2 mode, use the switchport mode command. To place a port-channel in L3 mode and remove L2 configuration before you configure an IP address, use the no switchport command. • All interfaces must have the same speed. • An interface must not contain non-default L2/L3 configuration settings. Only the description and shutdown or no shutdowncommands are supported. You cannot add an IP address or static MAC address to a member interface. • You cannot enable flow control on a port-channel interface. Flow control is supported on physical interfaces that are port-channel members. • Port-channels support 802.3ad LACP. LACP identifies similarly configured links and dynamically groups ports into a logical channel. LACP activates the maximum number of compatible ports that the switch supports in a port-channel. 156 Interfaces