Administrator Guide

Interfaces in Port Channels
When interfaces are added to a port channel, the interfaces must share a common speed. When interfaces have a configured speed
different from the port channel speed, the software disables those interfaces.
The common speed is determined when the port channel is first enabled. Then, the software checks the first interface listed in the port
channel configuration. If you enabled that interface, its speed configuration becomes the common speed of the port channel. If the other
interfaces configured in that port channel are configured with a different speed, Dell EMC Networking OS disables them.
Port channels can contain a mix of 1G/10G. The interface speed that the port channel uses is determined by the first port channel
member that is physically up. Dell EMC Networking OS disables the interfaces that do not match the interface speed that the first channel
member sets. That first interface may be either the interface that is physically brought up first or was physically operating when interfaces
were added to the port channel. For example, if the first operational interface in the port channel is a Tengigabit Ethernet interface, all
interfaces at 10000 Mbps are kept up, and all other interfaces that are not set to 10G speed or auto negotiate are disabled.
Dell EMC Networking OS brings up the interfaces that are set to auto negotiate so that their speed is identical to the speed of the first
channel member in the port channel.
Configuration Tasks for Port Channel Interfaces
To configure a port channel (LAG), use the commands similar to those found in physical interfaces. By default, no port channels are
configured in the startup configuration.
These are the mandatory and optional configuration tasks:
• Creating a Port Channel (mandatory)
• Adding a Physical Interface to a Port Channel (mandatory)
• Reassigning an Interface to a New Port Channel (optional)
• Configuring the Minimum Oper Up Links in a Port Channel (optional)
• Adding or Removing a Port Channel from a VLAN (optional)
• Assigning an IP Address to a Port Channel (optional)
• Deleting or Disabling a Port Channel (optional)
• Load Balancing Through Port Channels (optional)
Creating a Port Channel
You can create up to 128 port channels with up to 16 port members per group on the platform.
To configure a port channel, use the following commands.
1. Create a port channel.
CONFIGURATION mode
interface port-channel id-number
2. Ensure that the port channel is active.
INTERFACE PORT-CHANNEL mode
no shutdown
After you enable the port channel, you can place it in Layer 2 or Layer 3 mode. To place the port channel in Layer 2 mode or configure an
IP address to place the port channel in Layer 3 mode, use the switchport command.
You can configure a port channel as you would a physical interface by enabling or configuring protocols or assigning access control lists.
Adding a Physical Interface to a Port Channel
The physical interfaces in a port channel can be on any line card in the chassis, but must be the same physical type.
NOTE:
Port channels can contain a mix of Ethernet interfaces, but Dell EMC Networking OS disables the interfaces that
are not the same speed of the first channel member in the port channel (refer to 10/100/1000 Mbps Interfaces in Port
Channels).
You can add any physical interface to a port channel if the interface configuration is minimal. You can configure only the following
commands on an interface if it is a member of a port channel:
• description
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Interfaces