User's Manual

36-2
Catalyst 3750 Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-8550-09
Chapter 36 Configuring EtherChannels and Link-State Tracking
Understanding EtherChannels
Understanding EtherChannels
• EtherChannel Overview, page 36-2
• Port-Channel Interfaces, page 36-4
• Port Aggregation Protocol, page 36-5
• Link Aggregation Control Protocol, page 36-7
• EtherChannel On Mode, page 36-8
• Load Balancing and Forwarding Methods, page 36-8
• EtherChannel and Switch Stacks, page 36-10
EtherChannel Overview
An EtherChannel consists of individual Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet links bundled into a single
logical link as shown in Figure 36-1.
Figure 36-1 Typical EtherChannel Configuration
101237
Catalyst 8500
series switch
Gigabit EtherChannel
Workstations
10/100
Switched
links
Workstations
10/100
Switched
links
1000BASE-X 1000BASE-X