You can use 802.3ad Link Aggregation (LAG) to configure Ethernet link redundancy for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. Ethernet link redundancy enables you to protect against physical link failure and account for network topology changes that redirect network traffic to redundant ports.
The following configurations are available:
For information about the modules that support link aggregation, see ERX Module Guide, Appendix A, Module Protocol Support and E120 and E320 Module Guide, Appendix A, IOA Protocol Support.
The link connections determine the configuration model for link redundancy. The following connection types are available:
The type of hardware used for connections further characterizes the single-homed and dual-homed configuration models. The following hardware types are available:
![]() | Note: You cannot configure link redundancy across different types of line modules in a router. You also cannot configure link redundancy across two GE-4 IOAs on the E120 or the E320 routers. |
Figure 1 illustrates the configuration models for Ethernet link redundancy.
Figure 1: Ethernet Link Redundancy Configuration Models

The diagrams in this section illustrate examples of Ethernet link redundancy configurations. The diagrams display adjacent ports bundled in a LAG.
These diagrams compare physical port redundancy and link redundancy on a GE-2 line module.
Figure 2 displays a GE-2 line module with physical port redundancy on both ports.
Figure 2: GE-2 Line Module Using Physical Port Redundancy

Figure 3 displays a single-homed configuration with port 0 backing up port 1 on a GE-2 line module.
Figure 3: Single-Homed GE-2 Line Module Configuration

Figure 4 displays an FE-8 line module with a link failure in a 1:N single-homed configuration.
Figure 4: Single-Homed FE-8 Line Module Configuration (1:N)

Figure 5 displays an FE-8 line module with four redundant Ethernet links in a 1:1 configuration.
Figure 5: FE-8 Line Module with 4 Redundant Ethernet Links (1:1)

Figure 6 and Figure 7 display link redundancy configurations on the E120 and E320 routers.
Figure 6 displays a single-homed 1:4 configuration on an E120 router.
Figure 6: Single-Homed GE-4 IOA Configuration (1:4)

Figure 7 displays an E320 router with 1:N configuration across IOAs.
Figure 7: GE-8 IOA Configuration Across IOAs (1:N)

Figure 8 displays how you can configure Ethernet link redundancy with LACP disabled locally using a dual-homed configuration. LACP is disabled because there is no LAG at the peer.
Figure 8: Dual-Homed Configuration (1:1)
