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

• A port in active mode can form an EtherChannel successfully with another port that is in active mode.
• A port in active mode can form an EtherChannel with another port in passive mode.
• A port in passive mode cannot form an EtherChannel with another port that is also in passive mode
because neither port will initiate negotiation.
• A port in on mode is not running LACP.
LACP Marker Responders
Using EtherChannels, data traffic may be dynamically redistributed due to either a link failure or load balancing.
LACP uses the Marker Protocol to ensure that frames are not duplicated or reordered because of this
redistribution. Cisco NX-OS supports only Marker Responders.
LACP-Enabled and Static EtherChannels Differences
The following table provides a brief summary of major differences between EtherChannels with LACP enabled
and static EtherChannels.
Table 12: EtherChannels with LACP Enabled and Static EtherChannels
Static EtherChannelsEtherChannels with LACP EnabledConfigurations
Not applicable.Enable globally.Protocol applied
Can only be On.Can be either:Channel mode of links
• Active
• Passive
1616Maximum number of links in
channel
Configuring EtherChannels
Creating an EtherChannel
You can create an EtherChannel before creating a channel group. Cisco NX-OS automatically creates the
associated channel group.
If you want LACP-based EtherChannels, you need to enable LACP.Note
Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch CLI Software Configuration Guide
OL-16597-01 117
Configuring EtherChannels
LACP Marker Responders