Example: Configuring Aggregated Ethernet High-Speed Uplinks with LACP Between a Virtual Chassis Access Switch and a Virtual Chassis Distribution Switch
EX-series switches allow you to combine one to eight Ethernet links into one logical interface for higher bandwidth and redundancy. The ports that are combined in this manner are referred to as a link aggregation group (LAG) or bundle. EX-series switches allow you to further enhance these links by configuring Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP).
This example describes how to overlay LACP on the LAG configurations that were created in Example: Configuring Aggregated Ethernet High-Speed Uplinks Between a Virtual Chassis Access Switch and a Virtual Chassis Distribution Switch:
Requirements
This example uses the following software and hardware components:
- JUNOS Release 9.0 or later for EX-series switches
- Two EX-series 4200-48P switches
- Two EX-series 4200-24F switches
- Four EX-series EX-UM-2XFP uplink modules
Before you configure LACP, be sure you have:
- Installed your EX-series switches.
- Set up the virtual chassis switches. See Example: Configuring a Virtual Chassis with a Master and Backup in a Single Wiring Closet.
- Configured the uplink ports on the switches as trunk ports. See Configuring Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces (CLI Procedure).
- Configured the LAGs. See Example: Configuring Aggregated Ethernet High-Speed Uplinks Between a Virtual Chassis Access Switch and a Virtual Chassis Distribution Switch
Overview and Topology
This example assumes that you are already familiar with the Example: Configuring Aggregated Ethernet High-Speed Uplinks between Virtual Chassis Access Switch and Virtual Chassis Distribution Switch. The topology in this example is exactly the same as the topology in that other example. This example shows how to use LACP to enhance the LAG functionality.
LACP exchanges are made between actors (the transmitting link) and partners (the receiving link). The LACP mode can be either active or passive.
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Note: If the actor and partner are both in passive mode, they do not exchange LACP packets, which results in the aggregated Ethernet links not coming up. By default, LACP is in passive mode. To initiate transmission of LACP packets and responses to LACP packets, you must enable LACP in active mode. |
By default, the actor and partner send LACP packets every second. You can configure the interval at which the interfaces send LACP packets by including the periodic statement at the [edit interfaces interface-name aggregated-ether-options lacp] hierarchy level.
The interval can be fast (every second) or slow (every 30 seconds).
Configuring LACP for the LAGs on the Virtual Chassis Access Switch
To configure LACP for the access switch LAGs, perform these tasks:
CLI Quick Configuration
To quickly configure LACP for the access switch LAGs, copy the following commands and paste them into the switch terminal window:
[edit]
set interfaces
ae0 aggregated-ether-options lacp active periodic fast set interfaces ae1
aggregated-ether-options lacp active periodic fast
Step-by-Step Procedure
To configure LACP for Host-A LAGs ae0 and ae1:
- Specify the aggregated Ethernet options for both
bundles:
[edit interfaces]
user@Host-A#set ae0 aggregated-ether-options lacp active periodic fast
user@Host-A#set ae1 aggregated-ether-options lacp active periodic fast
Results
Display the results of the configuration:
aggregated-ether-options{
lacp{
active;
periodic fast;
}
}Configuring LACP for the LAGs on the Virtual Chassis Distribution Switch
To configure LACP for the two uplink LAGs from the virtual chassis access switch to the virtual chassis distribution switch, perform these tasks:
CLI Quick Configuration
To quickly configure LACP for the distribution switch LAGs, copy the following commands and paste them into the switch terminal window:
[edit interfaces]
set ae0 aggregated-ether-options lacp passive
periodic fast
set ae1 aggregated-ether-options lacp passive periodic
fast Step-by-Step Procedure
To configure LACP for Host D LAGs ae0 and ae1:
- Specify the aggregated ethernet options for both
bundles:
[edit interfaces]
user@Host-D#set ae0 aggregated-ether-options lacp passive periodic fast
user@Host-D#set ae1 aggregated-ether-options lacp passive periodic fast
Results
Display the results of the configuration:
aggregated-ether-options{
lacp{
passive;
periodic fast;
}
}Verification
To verify that LACP packets are being exchanged, perform these tasks:
Verifying the LACP Settings
Purpose
To verify that the LACP has been set up correctly.
Action
Use the show lacp interfaces interface-name command to check that LACP has been enabled as active on one end.
show lacp interfaces
xe-0/1/0
show lacp interfaces xe-0/1/0
Aggregated interface: ae0
LACP state: Role Exp Def Dist Col Syn Aggr Timeout Activity
xe-0/1/0 Actor No Yes No No No Yes Fast Active
xe-0/1/0 Partner No Yes No No No Yes Fast Passive
LACP protocol: Receive State Transmit State Mux State
xe-0/1/0 Defaulted Fast periodic Detached
Meaning
The output indicates that the LACP has been set up correctly and is active at one end.
Verifying That the LACP Packets Are Being Exchanged
Purpose
To verify that LACP packets are being exchanged.
Action
Use the show interfaces lag-name statistics command to display LACP information.
show interfaces
ae0 statistics
Physical interface: ae0, Enabled, Physical link is Down
Interface index: 153, SNMP ifIndex: 30
Link-level type: Ethernet, MTU: 1514, Speed: Unspecified, Loopback: Disabled,
Source filtering: Disabled, Flow control: Disabled, Minimum links needed: 1,
Minimum bandwidth needed: 0
Device flags : Present Running
Interface flags: Hardware-Down SNMP-Traps Internal: 0x0
Current address: 02:19:e2:50:45:e0, Hardware address: 02:19:e2:50:45:e0
Last flapped : Never
Statistics last cleared: Never
Input packets : 0
Output packets: 0
Input errors: 0, Output errors: 0
Logical interface ae0.0 (Index 71) (SNMP ifIndex 34)
Flags: Hardware-Down Device-Down SNMP-Traps Encapsulation: ENET2
Statistics Packets pps Bytes bps
Bundle:
Input : 0 0 0 0
Output: 0 0 0 0
Protocol inet, MTU: 1500
Flags: None
Addresses, Flags: Dest-route-down Is-Preferred Is-Primary
Destination: 10.10.10/24, Local: 10.10.10.1, Broadcast: 10.10.10.255
Meaning
The output here shows that the link is down and that no PDUs are being exchanged.
Troubleshooting
These are some tips for troubleshooting:
Troubleshooting a Nonworking LACP Link
Problem
The LACP link is not working.
Solution
Check the following:
- Remove the LACP configuration and verify whether the static LAG is up.
- Verify that LACP is configured at both ends.
- Verify that LACP is not passive at both ends.
- Verify whether LACP protocol data units are being exchanged by running the monitor traffic-interface lag-member detail command.