Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch CLI Software Configuration Guide, NX-OS 4.0(1a)N1 (OL-16597-01, January 2009)

Send feedback to [e-mail]
36-6
Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch CLI Software Configuration Guide
OL-16597-01
Chapter 36 Configuring SAN Port Channels
Configuring SAN Port Channels
If the following requirements are not met, a SAN port channel error is detected:
• Each switch on either side of a SAN port channel must be connected to the same number of
interfaces.
• Each interface must be connected to a corresponding interface on the other side (see Figure 36-6 for
an example of an invalid configuration).
• Links in a SAN port channel cannot be changed after the port channel is configured. If you change
the links after the port channel is configured, be sure to reconnect the links to interfaces within the
port channel and reenable the links.
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:
The following example shows SAN port channel creation:
switch(config)# interface san-port-channel 1
switch(config-if)#
About SAN Port Channel Modes
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.
Command Purpose
Step 1
switch# configuration terminal
switch(config)#
Enters configuration mode.
Step 2
switch(config)# interface
san-port-channel channel-number
Creates the specified SAN port channel using the
default mode (on). The SAN port channel number is
in the range of 1 to 256.