Distributed EtherChannel

[ngthen]

I know I can use Link Aggregation 802.3ad on a single switch, however can I create a link between two switches and use a port from each switch in the etherchannel group?  This feature is similar to HP's new distributed trunking which does this very thing.  I have two 6509 switches and all of my HP servers have 2 NICs.  I would like to make it so that if a NIC or switch dies then communications keep working.

[Jon Marshall]

ngthen@moonark.com
I know I can use Link Aggregation 802.3ad on a single switch, however can I create a link between two switches and use a port from each switch in the etherchannel group?  This feature is similar to HP's new distributed trunking which does this very thing.  I have two 6509 switches and all of my HP servers have 2 NICs.  I would like to make it so that if a NIC or switch dies then communications keep working.

You can do this on -

1) 3750 switches using multichassis etherchannel

2) 6500 switches using VSS

3) Nexus switches using VPCs (Virtual Port Channels)

on all other Cisco switches the ports in the etherchannel must be on the same switch.

Jon

[ngthen]

Do you have any examples of how to set it up on a 6500?

[Jon Marshall]

ngthen@moonark.com
Do you have any examples of how to set it up on a 6500? 

Do you have VSS capable supervisors ? Note that VSS on the 6500 requires different supervisors and also has limitations on which modules can be run in the chassis.

So are you running VSS on your 6500s ?

Jon

[ngthen]

I think so... assuming that I am how would I set it up

[Jon Marshall]

ngthen@moonark.com
I think so... assuming that I am how would I set it up 

You configure it as you would a normal etherchannel and as long as VSS is setup the system will recognise it as a MEC (Multichassis Etherchannel) if you include ports off both switches.

Jon

[ngthen]

Sweet...  So essentially I am just "stacking" two 6500s together.  Thus I could have one uplink on one switch and one on the other back to my building back bone for redundancy.

[Jon Marshall]

ngthen@moonark.com
Sweet...  So essentially I am just "stacking" two 6500s together.  Thus I could have one uplink on one switch and one on the other back to my building back bone for redundancy.

VSS in effect makes 2 separate 6500 swithes appear as one logical switch to other devices so yes you can have an etherchannel that is spread across both chassis.

Jon