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Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch CLI Software Configuration Guide
OL-16597-01
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Configuring Port Channels
This chapter describes how to configure port channels and to apply and configure the Link Aggregation
Control Protocol (LACP) for more efficient use of port channels in Cisco NX-OS.
This chapter includes the following sections:
•
Information About Port Channels, page 1-1
•
Configuring Port Channels, page 1-7
•
Verifying Port-Channel Configuration, page 1-12
Information About Port Channels
A port channel bundles up to eight individual interfaces into a group to provide increased bandwidth and
redundancy. Port channeling also load balances traffic across these physical interfaces. The port channel
stays operational as long as at least one physical interface within the port channel is operational.
You create a port channel by bundling compatible interfaces. You can configure and run either static port
channels or ports channels running the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP). (See
for information on LACP.)
Any configuration changes that you apply to the port channel are applied to each member interface of
that port channel. For example, if you configure Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) parameters on the port
channel, the Cisco NX-OS applies those parameters to each interface in the port channel.
You can use static port channels, with no associated protocol, for a simplified configuration. For more
efficient use of the port channel, you can use the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), which is
defined in IEEE 802.3ad. When you use LACP, the link passes protocol packets.
This section includes the following topics:
•
Understanding Port Channels, page 1-1
•
Compatibility Requirements, page 1-2
•
Load Balancing Using Port Channels, page 1-3
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Understanding Port Channels
Using port channels, Cisco NX-OS provides wider bandwidth, redundancy, and load balancing across
the channels.