Question

Difficulty: MediumLayer 2 and Layer 3 EtherChannel (LACP)

A network engineer needs to build a functional Layer 3 LACP EtherChannel (Port-channel 10) between two Cisco Catalyst switches using interfaces GigabitEthernet1/0/1 and GigabitEthernet1/0/2. Place the required Cisco IOS CLI configuration steps in the correct order from start to finish.

  1. 1Select the physical member interfaces using the command `interface range GigabitEthernet1/0/1 - 2` in global configuration mode.
  2. 2Convert the physical member interfaces from Layer 2 to Layer 3 ports using the `no switchport` command.
  3. 3Assign the physical interfaces to the port-channel group using the `channel-group 10 mode active` command.
  4. 4Navigate to the newly created logical port-channel using the `interface Port-channel 10` command.
  5. 5Configure the IP address on the logical port-channel using `ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.252`.

Answer

The correct sequence for configuring a Layer 3 LACP EtherChannel is: first select the physical interface range (`interface range GigabitEthernet1/0/1 - 2`), disable Layer 2 switching on the physical ports (`no switchport`), create/assign the LACP active group (`channel-group 10 mode active`), enter the logical port-channel interface (`interface Port-channel 10`), and finally assign the IPv4 address (`ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.252`).
To successfully configure a Layer 3 EtherChannel, physical member links must first be selected and converted into routed ports via the `no switchport` command. Next, the LACP dynamic protocol mode (`mode active`) is applied to bind the physical interfaces into channel-group 10. Finally, the network administrator enters the logical `interface Port-channel 10` configuration mode and assigns the IP address to the aggregate interface.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Select physical range
Enters range configuration mode `(config-if-range)` for member ports.
Allows simultaneous configuration of physical interfaces GigabitEthernet1/0/1 and GigabitEthernet1/0/2.
2
Execute `no switchport` on physical links
Member interfaces become routed ports.
Physical ports must be routed interfaces before being grouped into a Layer 3 EtherChannel.
3
Execute `channel-group 10 mode active`
Creates logical interface Port-channel 10 and binds member links using LACP.
The `active` keyword initiates LACP negotiation.
4
Enter `interface Port-channel 10`
Enters interface configuration mode `(config-if)` for the logical bundle.
Layer 3 parameters must be configured on the aggregate port-channel interface.
5
Assign IP address with `ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.252`
Port-channel 10 is configured with a unicast IP address.
Completes Layer 3 routed EtherChannel setup.

Key Concept

Layer 3 EtherChannel Configuration Sequence
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