EtherChannel in Computer Network

EtherChannel is a port link aggregation technology in which multiple physical port links are grouped into one logical link. It is used to provide high-speed links and redundancy. A maximum of 8 links can be aggregated to form a single logical link. 

EtherChannel, also known as Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), is a technique used in computer networks to combine multiple physical links between two network switches into a single logical link. This logical link provides increased bandwidth and redundancy, as well as improved load balancing.

EtherChannel works by grouping two or more physical links between switches into a single logical link. This logical link is treated as a single entity, with the switches treating it as a single link. Traffic is distributed across the physical links in the logical link, providing increased bandwidth and improved load balancing.

Need of EtherChannel –

Here is a topology in which two switches are connected with one PC each. The link between the switches and PC is 1000mb/s and the link between the switches is 100mb/s. 

Now, suppose if you want to send traffic of more than 100mb/s then we have congestion as the link between the switches is of 100mb/s only and packets will start dropping. Now, to solve this problem, we should have a high-speed link between the switches. To achieve this, We can simply replace the current link with a high-speed link or we can bundle up more than one link of the same speed of 100mb/s. By forming an EtherChannel, you can bundle up more than one link into a single logical link. 

But, as you connect the switches with more than one link, STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) will block the least redundant link. As we have made an EtherChannel, all the links (that are grouped as one logical link k) will be treated as single logical links therefore no link will be blocked and also, it will provide us high-speed link and redundancy in our network. 

Criteria – To form an EtherChannel, all ports should have: 

1. Same duplex
2. Same speed
3. Same VLAN configuration (i.e., native VLAN and allowed VLAN should be same)
4. Switch port modes should be the same (access or trunk mode)

EtherChannel protocols – To form an EtherChannel, there are 2 protocols, port aggregation Protocol (PAgP) and link aggregation control protocol (LACP). 

1. Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) –
The Cisco proprietary protocol Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) is an EtherChannel technology. It’s a type of data/traffic load balancing that involves the logical aggregation of Cisco Ethernet switch ports. A PAgP EtherChannel can merge up to eight physical links into one virtual link. LACP, or Link Aggregation Control Protocol, is an IEEE open standard. These are namely: 

1. ON: In this mode, the interface will be a part of EtherChannel but no negotiation takes place.
2. Desirable: In this mode, the interface will continuously attempt to convert the other side interface into an EtherChannel.
3. Auto: In this mode, the interface will become a part of EtherChannel if and only if it is requested by the opposite interface.
4. Off: No EtherChannel configured on the interface.

Configuration –

There is a small topology in which 2 switches S1 and S2 are connected with each other and we have to bundle these two links into a single logical link.  

S1(config)# interface fa0/1
S1(config-if)# channel-group 1 mode desirable 
S1(config)# interface fa0/2
S1(config-if)# channel-group 1 mode desirable 

S1(config)# interface port-channel 1
S1(config-if)# switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
S1(config-if)# switchport mode trunk

Here, the user has used the mode desirable and switch-port mode trunk. The modes should be the same on both switches therefore the user will configure this on the other switch also. 

Now, configuring on switch S2:  

S2(config)# interface fa0/1
S2(config-if)# channel-group 1 mode desirable 
S2(config)# interface fa0/2
S2(config-if)# channel-group 1 mode desirable 
S2(config)# interface port-channel 1
S2(config-if)# switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
S2(config-if)# switchport mode trunk

2. Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) –
Link Aggregation Control Protocol is an IEEE protocol, originally defined in 802.3ad, used to form an EtherChannel. This protocol is almost similar to Cisco PAgP. There are different modes in which you can configure your interface. These are namely:  

1. ON: In this mode, the interface will be a part of EtherChannel but no negotiation takes place
2. Active: In this mode, the interface will continuously attempt to convert the other side interface into an EtherChannel.
3. Passive: In this mode, the interface will become a part of EtherChannel if and only if it is requested by the opposite interface.
4. Off: No EtherChannel configured on the interface.

Configuration –

Taking the same topology, you will now configure LACP on both switches. First, configuring for S1:  

S1(config)# interface fa0/1
S1(config-if)# channel-group mode active 
S1(config)# interface fa0/2
S1(config-if)# channel-group mode active

S1(config)# interface port-channel 1
S1(config-if)# switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
S1(config-if)# switchport mode trunk

Now, configuring for S2: 

S2(config)# interface fa0/1
S2(config-if)# channel-group mode active
S2(config)# interface fa0/2
S2(config-if)# channel-group mode active 

S2(config)# interface port-channel 1
S2(config-if)# switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
S2(config-if)# switchport mode trunk

EtherChannel has several advantages, including:

Increased bandwidth: By combining multiple physical links into a single logical link, EtherChannel provides increased bandwidth between switches. This can help improve network performance and reduce bottlenecks.

Improved redundancy: EtherChannel provides improved redundancy by allowing traffic to be routed over multiple physical links. If one link fails, traffic is automatically routed over the remaining links.

Load balancing: EtherChannel distributes traffic across multiple physical links, providing improved load balancing and preventing congestion on any one link.

Simplified network configuration: EtherChannel simplifies network configuration by treating multiple physical links as a single logical link. This can reduce the complexity of network configurations and make troubleshooting easier.

Cost-effective: EtherChannel can be a cost-effective way to increase bandwidth and redundancy in a network, as it allows existing physical links to be used rather than requiring new hardware.