Multichassis EtherChannel

battanc · ‎12-04-2008

I have 2 6509 switches at the core.

To increase performances, I will build some Etherchannel between the 6509 and Servers, edge Switches, etc.

To increase availability, I am considering to spread the EtherChannel (two links each), across the two Switch: one link on Switch "A" and one link on Switch "B", using LACP and one of the load-balancing method.

Do Multichassis EtherChannel work on 6500?

I beleave it do NOT...

Or do it work with some specific supervisor?

Best regards

Claudio

Thotsaphon Lueangwattanaphong · ‎12-05-2008

Hi Claudio,

It's not going to work. It can be done by using Virtual Switching System.

Please check this link out.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps9336/prod_qas0900aecd806ed74b_ps2797_Products_Q_and_A_Item.html

Toshi

Joseph W. Doherty · ‎12-05-2008

As Toshi mentions, you would need to run VSS on your 6500 pair. (I also understand there are some "quirks", at the moment, in building Etherchannel across VSS pairs.)

What you might consider, building 2nd connection to 2nd 6500 for redundancy using STP (or something like Flexlink?). And/or building Ethernchannel to same 6500 across line cards. If you do both, you might also not build the backup path with Etherchannel since it would only come into play with a failure of the other 6500 chassis.