Configuration Guidelines And Restrictions - Cisco MDS 9000 Series Configuration Manual

Chapter 6 Configuring PortChannels
S e n d d o c u m e n t a t i o n c o m m e n t s t o m d s f e e d b a c k - d o c @ c i s c o . c o m
Table 6-1
Table 6-1
ON Mode
No protocol is exchanged.
Moves interfaces to the suspended state if its
operational values are incompatible with the
PortChannel.
When you add or modify a PortChannel member
port configuration, you must explicitly disable
(shut) and enable (no shut) the PortChannel
member ports at either end.
Port initialization is not synchronized.
All misconfigurations are not detected as no
protocol is exchanged.
Transitions misconfigured ports to the suspended
state. You must explicitly disable (shut) and
enable (no shut) the member ports at either end.
This is the default mode.

Configuration Guidelines and Restrictions

Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches support the following number of PortChannels per switch:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Generation 1 PortChannel Limitations
This section includes the restrictions on creation and addition of PortChannel members to a PortChannel
on Generation 1 hardware:
•
OL-19445-02, Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 4.2(x)
compares ON and ACTIVE modes.
Channel Group Configuration Differences
Switches with only Generation 1 switching modules do not support F and TF PortChannels.
Switches with Generation 1 switching modules, or a combination of Generation 1 and Generation 2
switching modules, support a maximum of 128 PortChannels. Only Generation 2 ports can be
included in the PortChannels.
Switches with only Generation 2 switching modules or Generation 2 and Generation 3 modules
support a maximum of 256 PortChannels with 16 interfaces per PortChannel.
A PortChannel number refers to the unique identifier for each channel group. This number ranges
from of 1 to 256.
Autocreation of port-channel in any mode is not supported as of MDS NX-OS Release 4.1(1b) and
later.
The PortChannel interface must be in ACTIVE mode when multiple FCIP interfaces are grouped
with WA.
The 32-port 2-Gbps or 1-Gbps switching module
ACTIVE Mode
A PortChannel protocol negotiation is performed
with the peer ports.
Moves interfaces to the isolated state if its
operational values are incompatible with the
PortChannel.
When you add or modify a PortChannel interface,
the PortChannel automatically recovers.
There is synchronized startup of all ports in a
channel across peer switches.
Consistently detect misconfigurations using a
PortChannel protocol.
Transitions misconfigured ports to the isolated
state to correct the misconfiguration. Once you
correct the misconfiguration, the protocol ensures
automatic recovery.
You must explicitly configure this mode.
Cisco MDS 9000 Family NX-OS Interfaces Configuration Guide
About PortChannels
6-7