What is port channel and its operation?

A port channel is a communication link between two switches supported by matching channel group interfaces on each switch. A port channel is also referred to as a Link Aggregation Group (LAG). Port channels combine the bandwidth of multiple Ethernet ports into a single logical link.

What happens if port channel is down?

If a link goes down in a port channel, the upper protocol is not aware of it. To the upper protocol, the link is still there, although the bandwidth is diminished. The MAC address tables are not affected by link failure.

What does a port channel do?

A port channel bundles individual interfaces into a group to provide increased bandwidth and redundancy. Port channeling also load balances traffic across these physical interfaces. The port channel stays operational as long as at least one physical interface within the port channel is operational.

What’s the difference between port channel and EtherChannel?

EtherChannel terminologies Spanning Tree Protocol – Is a data link layer protocol that prevents loops in networks with redundant links. Port-Channel – This refers to communication links between switches that combine multiple ethernet ports bandwidth into a single logical link.

Can a port channel be an access port?

A port-channel can be configured to work as a Layer 2 port-channel or a Layer 3 port-channel. Based on the configuration mode of port-channel, it can allow configuring the respective properties like a Layer 2 port-channel can be configured as an access port or as a trunk port.

How many ports does a port channel have?

A port channel is an aggregation of multiple physical interfaces that creates a logical interface. You can bundle up to 32 individual active links into a port channel to provide increased bandwidth and redundancy. Port channeling also load balances traffic across these physical interfaces.

What is vPC port channel?

vPC (Virtual Port Channel) is the Cisco Proprietary feature that is only working on Cisco Nexus Components. vPC use to make Nexus devices logically single devices for the end host or devices. vPC is also known as Multi-chassis EtherChannel (MEC).