Cisco ACI uses the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) to form port channels automatically. LACP allows switches to negotiate the forming of a port channel by sending LACP packets to each other. The LACP negotiation process determines whether the links can be aggregated. If so, the switch bundles the links into a port channel.
LACP offers several advantages over manual link aggregation. First, LACP is a standards-based protocol that is supported by many vendors. This allows you to create port channels across devices from different vendors. Second, LACP automatically detects links that are unavailable and removes them from the port channel. This reduces the administrative overhead of managing link aggregation manually. Finally, LACP offers load balancing and failover capabilities that are not available with manual link aggregation.
Cisco ACI uses LACP to form port channels automatically. To configure LACP, you must first create a port channel interface and then configure LACP on the interface.
Creating a Port Channel Interface
To create a port channel interface, use the interface port-channel command. For example, the following command creates a port channel interface named port-channel1:
switch(config)# interface port-channel1
Configuring LACP
Once you have created a port channel interface, you can configure LACP on the interface. LACP uses a process called negotiation to automatically bundle together multiple physical links into a single logical link. The LACP negotiation process is performed between devices that are connected to each other via LACP-compatible ports.
To configure LACP, use the lacp command. For example, the following command configures LACP on port-channel1:
switch(config-if)# lacp
The LACP negotiation process will now begin automatically. Once the negotiation process is complete, the physical links will be bundled together into a single logical link.
Load Balancing and Failover
LACP offers load balancing and failover capabilities that are not available with manual link aggregation. Load balancing distributes traffic across the physical links in a port channel evenly. This ensures that all links in the port channel are utilized fully.
Failover allows traffic to be rerouted in the event that one of the links in the port channel fails. When a link fails, LACP automatically detects the failure and removes the link from the port channel. Traffic is then rerouted across the remaining links in the port channel.
LACP offers several advantages over manual link aggregation. First, LACP is a standards-based protocol that is supported by many vendors. This allows you to create port channels across devices from different vendors. Second, LACP automatically detects links that are unavailable and removes them from the port channel. This reduces the administrative overhead of managing link aggregation manually. Finally, LACP offers load balancing and failover capabilities that are not available with manual link aggregation.
Cisco ACI uses LACP to form port channels automatically. To configure LACP, you must first create a port channel interface and then configure LACP on the interface.
