Sample Configuration: EtherChannel Between Catalyst Switches Running CatOS
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Contents
Introduction
This document discusses the setup of an EtherChannel between a Cisco Catalyst 5500 switch and a Catalyst 6500 switch, both running Catalyst OS (CatOS). Any Catalyst 4500/4000, 5500/5000, or 6500/6000 series switch running CatOS could have been used in this scenario to obtain the same results. EtherChannel can be called Fast EtherChannel (FEC) or Gigabit EtherChannel (GEC), depending on the speed of the interfaces or ports used to form the EtherChannel.
In this example, two Fast Ethernet (FE) ports from each of the switches have been bundled into an FEC. Throughout this document, the terms "Fast EtherChannel", "Gigabit EtherChannel", "port channel", "channel", and "port group" all refer to EtherChannel.
This document includes only the configuration files from the switches and the output from the related sample show commands. For further details on how to configure an EtherChannel between Catalyst switches, refer to the following document:
This document does not provide configurations using the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP). For more information on configuring LACP, refer to the following document:
Prerequisites
Requirements
There are no specific requirements for this document.
Components Used
The information in this document is based on these software and hardware versions:
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Catalyst 5500 switch running CatOS 6.3(7) software
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Catalyst 6500 switch running CatOS 7.2(2) software
Note: Before configuring the channel between the CatOS switches, refer to the following document:
The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.
Conventions
For more information on document conventions, refer to Cisco Technical Tips Conventions.
Background Theory
EtherChannel may be configured unconditionally (using channel mode on), or it may be configured by having the switch negotiate the channel with the far end using the Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) (using channel mode desirable).
Note: Catalyst switches running CatOS support PAgP, and therefore desirable mode is recommended for setting up an EtherChannel between these devices. PAgP protects against any misconfigurations between the two devices. Channel mode on can be useful when the far end device does not support PAgP and you need to set up the channel unconditionally. The silent or non-silent keywords are available with auto and desirable channel modes. The silent keyword is enabled by default on all ports for Catalyst 4500/4000 or 6500/6000, and on copper ports of Catalyst 5500/5000 series switches. The non-silent keyword is enabled by default on all fiber ports (FE and Gigabit Ethernet [GE]) for Catalyst 5500/5000 series switches. It is recommended to use the default silent or non-silent keyword when connecting between Cisco switches.
For more details on PAgP and EtherChannel, go to the Technical Documentation for your release of CatOS software found on the Cisco Switches product pages. Refer to the sections Configuring Fast EtherChannel and Gigabit EtherChannel or Configuring EtherChannel. You may wish to use your browser Find feature to locate these sections.
Another good reference is the EtherChannel / Port Aggregation Protocol section of the following document:
Configure
In this section, you are presented with the information to configure the features described in this document.
Note: To find additional information on the commands used in this document, use the Command Lookup Tool 
(registered customers only) .
Network Diagram
This document uses this network setup:
Configurations
This document uses these configurations:
Note: The configurations listed in this document have been implemented by configuring the EtherChannel using PAgP negotiation through the recommended desirable mode.
| Catalyst 5500 Switch |
|---|
#version 6.3(7) ! set option fddi-user-pri enabled ! #system set system name cat5500 ! #frame distribution method set port channel all distribution mac both ! #ip !--- This is the IP address used for management. set interface sc0 1 10.10.10.2/255.255.255.0 10.10.10.255 ! #set boot command set boot config-register 0x2102 set boot system flash bootflash:cat5000-sup3.6-3-7.bin ! #port channel !--- Ports are assigned to admin group 50. This admin group is assigned !--- automatically when the port channel is configured, or it can be assigned manually. !--- If the admin group does not need to be assigned manually, this command should not be !--- manually set either. Let the switch create it automatically. !--- Also note that ports 4/1 through 4/4 are set for port channel even though only !--- 4/1-2 are configured. This is normal behavior. The ports 4/3 and 4/4 can !--- be used for any other purpose. set port channel 4/1-4 50 ! # default port status is enable ! ! #module 1 : 2-port 1000BaseSX Supervisor ! #module 2 empty ! #module 3 empty ! #module 4 : 24-port 10/100BaseTX Ethernet !--- Port channeling is enabled. set port channel 4/1-2 mode desirable silent ! #module 5 : 12-port 10/100BaseTX Ethernet ! #module 6 empty ! #module 7 : 2-port MM OC-3 Dual-Phy ATM ! #module 8 empty ! #module 9 empty ! #module 10 empty ! #module 11 empty ! #module 12 empty ! #module 13 empty end |
| Catalyst 6500 Switch |
|---|
#version 7.2(2) ! ! #system set system name cat6500 ! #! #ip !--- This is the IP address used for management. set interface sc0 1 10.10.10.1/255.255.255.0 10.10.10.255 ! #set boot command set boot config-register 0x2102 set boot system flash bootflash:cat6000-supk8.7-2-2.bin ! #igmp set igmp leave-query-type mac-gen-query ! #port channel !--- The ports are assigned to admin group 63. This admin group is assigned !--- automatically when the port channel is configured or it can be assigned manually. !--- If admin group does not need to be assigned manually, this command should not be !--- manually set. Let the switch create it automatically. !--- Also note that ports 4/1 through 4/4 are set for the port channel even though !--- only 4/1-2 are configured. This is normal behavior. The ports 4/3 and 4/4 !--- can be used for any other purpose. set port channel 4/1-4 63 ! # default port status is enable ! ! #module 1 : 2-port 1000BaseX Supervisor ! #module 2 : 2-port 1000BaseX Supervisor ! #module 3 empty ! #module 4 : 48-port 10/100BaseTX Ethernet !--- Port channeling is enabled. set port channel 4/1-2 mode desirable silent ! #module 5 empty ! #module 6 empty ! #module 15 : 1-port Multilayer Switch Feature Card ! #module 16 : 1-port Multilayer Switch Feature Card end |
Verify
This section provides information you can use to confirm your configuration is working properly.
show Commands
Certain show commands are supported by the Output Interpreter Tool (registered customers only) , which allows you to view an analysis of show command output.
To check the port channel in a CatOS switch, issue the following commands:
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show port capabilities module
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show port channel
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show port channel module/port
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show port channel info
To check the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) status in a CatOS switch, issue the following commands:
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show spantree
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show spantree vlan
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show spantree module/port
Sample show Command Output
Catalyst 5500 Switch
show port capabilities module
This command is used to check whether the module is capable of channeling. It also shows what other ports are allowed to form the channel with this port.
cat5500> (enable) show port capabilities 4 Model WS-X5225R Port 4/1 Type 10/100BaseTX Speed auto,10,100 Duplex half,full Trunk encap type 802.1Q,ISL Trunk mode on,off,desirable,auto,nonegotiate Channel 4/1-2,4/1-4 Broadcast suppression percentage(0-100) Flow control receive-(off,on),send-(off,on) Security yes Dot1x yes Membership static,dynamic Fast start yes QOS scheduling rx-(none),tx-(none) CoS rewrite yes ToS rewrite IP-Precedence Rewrite no UDLD yes AuxiliaryVlan 1..1000,untagged,dot1p,none SPAN source,destination -------------------------------------------------------------- Model WS-X5225R Port 4/2 Type 10/100BaseTX Speed auto,10,100 Duplex half,full Trunk encap type 802.1Q,ISL Trunk mode on,off,desirable,auto,nonegotiate Channel 4/1-2,4/1-4 Broadcast suppression percentage(0-100) Flow control receive-(off,on),send-(off,on) Security yes Dot1x yes Membership static,dynamic Fast start yes QOS scheduling rx-(none),tx-(none) CoS rewrite yes ToS rewrite IP-Precedence Rewrite no UDLD yes AuxiliaryVlan 1..1000,untagged,dot1p,none SPAN source,destination -------------------------------------------------------------- !--- Output suppressed.
show port channel
This command, along with the show port channel info command, is used to check the status of the port channel.
cat5500> (enable) show port channel
Port Status Channel Admin Ch
Mode Group Id
----- ---------- -------------------- ----- -----
4/1 connected desirable silent 50 865
4/2 connected desirable silent 50 865
----- ---------- -------------------- ----- -----
Port Device-ID Port-ID Platform
----- ------------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------
4/1 TBA04380080(cat6500) 4/1 WS-C6506
4/2 TBA04380080(cat6500) 4/2 WS-C6506
----- ------------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------
Note: Ports 4/3 and 4/4 are shown in the output above if they are in the not-connected status.
If you have the output of a show port channel command from your Cisco device, you can use the Output Interpreter Tool (registered customers only) , to display potential issues and fixes.
show spantree module/port
cat5500> (enable) show spantree 4/1 Port Vlan Port-State Cost Prio Portfast Channel_id ------------------------ ---- ------------- --------- ---- -------- ---------- 4/1-2 1 forwarding 12 32 disabled 865 cat5500> (enable) show spantree 4/2 Port Vlan Port-State Cost Prio Portfast Channel_id ------------------------ ---- ------------- --------- ---- -------- ---------- 4/1-2 1 forwarding 12 32 disabled 865
Note: Output of the show spantree module/port command for ports 4/1 and 4/2 is identical since these ports are grouped together in one channel with the Channel ID of 865.
Catalyst 6500 Switch
show port capabilities module
This command is used to check whether the module is capable of channeling. It also shows what other ports are allowed to form the channel with this port.
cat6500> (enable) show port capabilities 4/1 Model WS-X6248-RJ-45 Port 4/1 Type 10/100BaseTX Speed auto,10,100 Duplex half,full Trunk encap type 802.1Q,ISL Trunk mode on,off,desirable,auto,nonegotiate Channel yes Broadcast suppression no Flow control receive-(off,on),send-(off) Security yes Dot1x yes Membership static,dynamic Fast start yes QOS scheduling rx-(1q4t),tx-(2q2t) CoS rewrite yes ToS rewrite DSCP UDLD yes Inline power no AuxiliaryVlan 1..1000,1025..4094,untagged,dot1p,none SPAN source,destination COPS port group 4/1-48 Link debounce timer yes
show port channel
This command, along with the show port channel info command, is used to check the status of the port channel.
cat6500> (enable) show port channel
Port Status Channel Admin Ch
Mode Group Id
----- ---------- -------------------- ----- -----
4/1 connected desirable silent 63 865
4/2 connected desirable silent 63 865
Port Device-ID Port-ID Platform
----- ------------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------
4/1 069001645(cat5500) 4/1 WS-C5500
4/2 069001645(cat5500) 4/2 WS-C5500
Note: Ports 4/3 and 4/4 are shown in the output above if they are in the not-connected status.
If you have the output of a show port channel command from your Cisco device, you can use the Output Interpreter Tool (registered customers only) , to display potential issues and fixes.
show port channel info
cat6500> (enable) show port channel info
Switch Frame Distribution Method: ip both
Port Status Channel Admin Channel Speed Duplex Vlan
mode group id
----- ---------- -------------------- ----- ------- ----- ------ ----
4/1 connected desirable silent 63 865 a-100 a-full 1
4/2 connected desirable silent 63 865 a-100 a-full 1
Port Channel Oper-group Neighbor Oper-Distribution PortSecurity/
ifIndex Oper-group Method Dynamic port
----- ------- ---------- ---------- ----------------- -------------
4/1 215 241 1 ip both
4/2 215 241 1 ip both
Port Device-ID Port-ID Platform
----- ------------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------
4/1 069001645(cat5500) 4/1 WS-C5500
4/2 069001645(cat5500) 4/2 WS-C5500
!--- Output suppressed.
show spantree vlan
The show spantree commands are used to verify if all the ports within a channel are grouped together and are in forwarding state.
cat6500> (enable) show spantree 1 VLAN 1 Spanning tree mode PVST+ Spanning tree type ieee Spanning tree enabled Designated Root 00-04-6d-82-88-00 Designated Root Priority 0 Designated Root Cost 38 Designated Root Port 4/25 Root Max Age 20 sec Hello Time 2 sec Forward Delay 15 sec Bridge ID MAC ADDR 00-03-a0-e9-0c-00 Bridge ID Priority 32768 Bridge Max Age 20 sec Hello Time 2 sec Forward Delay 15 sec Port Vlan Port-State Cost Prio Portfast Channel_id ------------------------ ---- ------------- --------- ---- -------- ---------- 1/1 1 not-connected 4 32 disabled 0 1/2 1 not-connected 4 32 disabled 0 2/1 1 not-connected 4 32 disabled 0 2/2 1 not-connected 4 32 disabled 0 4/1-2 1 forwarding 12 32 disabled 865 4/3 1 forwarding 19 32 disabled 0 4/4 1 forwarding 19 32 disabled 0 4/5 1 not-connected 100 32 disabled 0 4/6 1 not-connected 100 32 disabled 0 4/7 1 not-connected 100 32 disabled 0 4/8 1 not-connected 100 32 disabled 0 4/9 1 not-connected 100 32 disabled 0 4/10 1 not-connected 100 32 disabled 0 4/11 1 not-connected 100 32 disabled 0 4/12 1 not-connected 100 32 disabled 0 4/13 1 not-connected 100 32 disabled 0 4/14 1 not-connected 100 32 disable !--- Output suppressed.
If you have the output of a show spantree command from your Cisco device, you can use the Output Interpreter Tool (registered customers only) , to display potential issues and fixes.
show spantree module/port
cat6500> (enable) show spantree 4/1 Port Vlan Port-State Cost Prio Portfast Channel_id ------------------------ ---- ------------- --------- ---- -------- ---------- 4/1-2 1 forwarding 12 32 disabled 865 cat6500> (enable) show spantree 4/2 Port Vlan Port-State Cost Prio Portfast Channel_id ------------------------ ---- ------------- --------- ---- -------- ---------- 4/1-2 1 forwarding 12 32 disabled 865
Note: Output of the show spantree module/port command for ports 3/1 and 3/2 is identical since these ports are grouped together in one channel with the Channel ID of 865.
Special Consideration Using Unconditional on Channel Mode
Cisco recommends using PAgP for port channel configuration, as described in Background Theory, above. If for any reason you are configuring the EtherChannel unconditionally (using channel mode on), it is recommended that you create a port channel by following the steps below. This avoids possible problems with STP during the configuration process. STP loop detection may disable the ports if one side is configured as a channel before the other side can be configured as a channel.
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Set the ports to be used in port channeling to disable mode on the first switch by issuing the set port disable module/port command.
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Create the port channel (port group) on the first switch and set the channel mode to on.
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Create the port channel on the second switch and set the channel mode to on.
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Re-enable the ports that were disabled earlier on the first switch by issuing the set port enable module/port command.
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