Lab Objective:
The objective of this lab exercise is for you to learn and understand how to use redundant links between Cisco switches in order to build port channels.
Lab Purpose:
Understanding how to enable the different port-channel protocols on a Layer 2 network is a must for every engineer to know. As a Cisco engineer, as well as in the Cisco CCNA exam, you will be expected to know how to configure port-channels using LACP, PAgP or the ON mechanism.
Certification Level:
This lab is suitable for ICND2 and CCNA certification exam preparation.
Lab Difficulty:
This lab has a difficulty rating of 7/10.
Readiness Assessment:
When you are ready for your certification exam, you should complete this lab in no more than 20 minutes.
Lab Topology:
Please use the following topology to complete this lab exercise:
Task 1:
Configure the hostnames on Sw1, Sw2, and Sw3 as illustrated in the topology.
Task 2:
Create two VLANs on every switch as follows:
- VLAN10: Data
- VLAN20: Management
Task 3:
Configure each switchport shown in the diagram as a trunk and make sure all VLANs are allowed.
Task 4:
Start configuring the port channels as follows:
- Links between Sw1 and Sw2: Port channel 1/Protocol LACP
- Links between Sw1 and Sw3: Port channel 2/Protocol PAgP
- Links between Sw2 and Sw3: Port channel 3/Use the ON mode
Note: You can select which side is active/passive or desirable/auto.
Task 5:
Make sure each port channel is up and running by issuing the following command on each switch:
show etherchannel summary
Configuration and Verification
Task 1:
For reference information on configuring hostnames, please refer to earlier labs.
Task 2:
For reference information on configuring VLANs, please refer to earlier labs.
Task 3:
SW1(config)#int range fa0/1-4 SW1(config-if-range)#switchport mode trunk SW1(config-if-range)#switchport trunk allow vlan all SW1(config-if-range)#exit SW1(config)# SW2(config)#int range fa0/1-4 SW2(config-if-range)#switchport mode trunk SW2(config-if-range)#switchport trunk allow vlan all SW2(config-if-range)#exit SW2(config)# SW3(config)#int range fa0/1-4 SW3(config-if-range)#switchport mode trunk SW3(config-if-range)#switchport trunk allow vlan all SW3(config-if-range)#exit SW3(config)#
Task 4:
SW1(config)#interface range fa0/1-2 SW1(config-if-range)#channel-group 1 mode active SW1(config-if-range)#exit SW1(config)# SW1(config)#interface range fa0/3-4 SW1(config-if-range)#channel-group 2 mode desirable SW1(config-if-range)#exit SW1(config)# SW2(config)#interface range fa0/1-2 SW2(config-if-range)#channel-group 1 mode passive SW2(config-if-range)#exit SW2(config)# SW2(config)#interface range fa0/3-4 SW2(config-if-range)#channel-group 3 mode on SW2(config-if-range)#exit SW2(config)# SW3(config)#interface range fa0/1-2 SW3(config-if-range)#channel-group 2 mode auto SW3(config-if-range)#exit SW3(config)# SW3(config)#interface range fa0/3-4 SW3(config-if-range)#channel-group 3 mode on SW3(config-if-range)#exit SW3(config)#
Task 5:
SW1#show etherchannel summary Flags: D - down P - in port-channel I - stand-alone s - suspended H - Hot-standby (LACP only) R - Layer3 S - Layer2 U - in use f - failed to allocate aggregator u - unsuitable for bundling w - waiting to be aggregated d - default port Number of channel-groups in use: 2 Number of aggregators: 2 Group Port-channel Protocol Ports ------+-------------+-----------+------------------------------------ 1 Po1(SU) LACP Fa0/1(P) Fa0/2(P) 2 Po2(SU) PAgP Fa0/3(P) Fa0/4(P) SW2#show etherchannel summary Flags: D - down P - in port-channel I - stand-alone s - suspended H - Hot-standby (LACP only) R - Layer3 S - Layer2 U - in use f - failed to allocate aggregator u - unsuitable for bundling w - waiting to be aggregated d - default port Number of channel-groups in use: 2 Number of aggregators: 2 Group Port-channel Protocol Ports ------+-------------+-----------+------------------------------------ 1 Po1(SU) LACP Fa0/1(P) Fa0/2(P) 3 Po3(SU) - Fa0/3(D) Fa0/4(P) SW3#show etherchannel summary Flags: D - down P - in port-channel I - stand-alone s - suspended H - Hot-standby (LACP only) R - Layer3 S - Layer2 U - in use f - failed to allocate aggregator u - unsuitable for bundling w - waiting to be aggregated d - default port Number of channel-groups in use: 2 Number of aggregators: 2 Group Port-channel Protocol Ports ------+-------------+-----------+------------------------------------- 2 Po2(SU) PAgP Fa0/1(P) Fa0/2(P) 3 Po3(SU) - Fa0/3(D) Fa0/4(P)