Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch CLI Software Configuration Guide (OL-16597-01, July 2009)

If all three conditions are not met, the faulty link is disabled.
Enter the show interface command for that interface to verify that the SAN port channel is functioning as
required.
Creating a SAN Port Channel
To create a SAN port channel, perform this task:
Procedure
PurposeCommand or Action
Enters configuration mode.switch# configuration terminal
Step 1
Creates the specified SAN port channel using the
default mode (on). The SAN port channel number
is in the range of 1 to 256.
switch(config)# interface
san-port-channel channel-number
Step 2
SAN Port Channel Configuration Guidelines
You can configure each SAN port channel with a channel group mode parameter to determine the port channel
protocol behavior for all member ports in this channel group. The possible values for a channel group mode
are as follows:
• On (default)—The member ports only operate as part of a SAN port channel or remain inactive. In this
mode, the port channel protocol is not initiated. However, if a port channel protocol frame is received
from a peer port, the software indicates its nonnegotiable status. Port channels configured in the On
mode require you to explicitly enable and disable the port channel member ports at either end if you add
or remove ports from the port channel configuration. You must physically verify that the local and
remote ports are connected to each other.
• Active—The member ports initiate port channel protocol negotiation with the peer port(s) regardless of
the channel group mode of the peer port. If the peer port, while configured in a channel group, does not
support the port channel protocol, or responds with a nonnegotiable status, it will default to the On mode
behavior. The Active port channel mode allows automatic recovery without explicitly enabling and
disabling the port channel member ports at either end.
The table below compares On and Active modes.
Table 70: Channel Group Configuration Differences
Active ModeOn Mode
A port channel protocol negotiation is performed with
the peer ports.
No protocol is exchanged.
Moves interfaces to the isolated state if its operational
values are incompatible with the SAN port channel.
Moves interfaces to the suspended state if its
operational values are incompatible with the SAN
port channel.
Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch CLI Software Configuration Guide
520 OL-16597-01
Configuring SAN Port Channels
Creating a SAN Port Channel