How to Configure Cisco EtherChannel

Information about Configuring Cisco EtherChannel & NIC Teaming  

This document describes how to configure Etherchannel between Cisco Switch and Dell Server. The terms portgroup, channel, and port channel all refer to etherchannel  

  

Document creator: Todd Walters  

Requirements  

• Must have LACP Support NICS (Broadcom from Dell)  
• Must download & install the Broadcom BACS3 Software on server.  
• Create team using Broadcom Advanced Control Suite (BACS3) - Online Manual  
  • Launch BACS and Choose Create Team from Team Menu  
  • Create TEAM1 (name)  
  • Choose LACP as Team Type  
  • Select Adapters  
  • Skip Manage VLAN  
  • Select Finish to Commit Changes  
• Determine NIC IP and Virutal Adapter IP  
• On Server, open Network Connections and assign IP information to new Virtual Adapter.  
• Determine Switch Ports to use  
• Determine EtherChannel Number (port-channel)  

  

Configure Interfaces on Switch for EtherChannel  

1. Login to Switch show interface   
   1. Switch_6509_1#show int gi8/32   
   2. switch_6509_1#show int gi8/33  
2. Configure interfaces for etherchannel by enter configuration mode   
3. Specify range to configure both interfaces at same time   
   1. Switch_6509_1(config)#int range gi8/32 - 33   
   2. (config)# descriptions <some description>   
   3. (config)# no ip address   
   4. (config)# switchport mode access   
   5. (config)# switchport access vlan XXX (where XXX=vlan ID)   
   6. (config)# channel-protocol lacp   
   7. (config)# no snmp trap link-status   
   8. (config)# spanning-tree portfast edge   
   9. (config)# channel-group X mode active (where X = Etherchannel group number)   
   10. (config)# end  
4. Turn interface on   
   1. Run config-t   
   2. Choose range again   
   3. (config)# int range gi8/32 - 33   
   4. (config)# no shut   
   5. end   
   6. config t   
   7. (config)# int port-channel X (where X = channel group)   
   8. (config)# no shut   
   9. end  
5. Review Etherchannel Summary (everything should show up)   
   • Switch_6509_1#show etherchannel 9 summary 
   • Flags: D - down P - bundled in port-channel I - stand-alone s - suspended  H - Hot-standby (LACP only)  R - Layer3 S - Layer2  U - in use N - not in use, no aggregation  f - failed to allocate aggregator  M - not in use, no aggregation due to minimum links not met  m - not in use, port not aggregated due to minimum links not met  u - unsuitable for bundling  d - default port  w - waiting to be aggregated  Number of channel-groups in use: 4  Number of aggregators: 4  Group Port-channel Protocol Ports ------+-------------+-----------+----------------------------------------------- 9 Po9(SU) LACP Gi8/32(P) Gi8/33(P) Last applied Hash Distribution Algorithm: Fixed   
6. Verify connectivity to Server. Test with ping.   
7. Review server default route, configurations, etc... for troubleshooting.