Connectrix - MDS Series Cisco: How to create a port channel using CLI

How to create a port channel on a Cisco switch.
 

Step 1: On switch1:

1. Create the Port-Channel.
   
   switch1# config terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line, ending with CNTL/Z.
switch1(config)# interface fc1/1, fc2/1
switch1(config-if)# channel-group 2
   
   fc1/1 fc2/1 added to port channel 2 and disabled.
   
   Do the same operation on the switch at the other end of the port channel, then do "no shutdown" at both ends to bring them up.
   
   switch1(config-if)# switchport description "To switch2 PortChannel2"
    
2. Enable trunking (TE) and set the VSAN allowed list on switch1.
   
   switch1# config terminal
switch1(config)# int port-channel 2
switch1(config-if)# switchport trunk mode on
switch1(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vsan 1
switch1(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vsan add 10

Step 2: On switch2:

1. Create the port channel on switch2, including setting the description.
   
   switch2# config terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line, ending with CNTL/Z.
switch2(config)# interface fc1/1, fc2/1
switch2(config-if)# channel-group 2
   
   fc1/1 fc2/1 added to port channel 2 and disabled.
   
   Do the same operation on the switch at the other end of the port channel, then do "no shutdown" at both ends to bring them up.
   
   switch2(config-if) # switchport description "To switch1 PortChannel2"
    
2. Enable trunking (TE) and set the VSAN allowed list on switch1.
   
   switch2# config terminal
switch2(config)# int port-channel 2
switch2(config-if)# switchport trunk mode on
switch2(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vsan 1
switch2(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vsan add 10

Step 3: Enable the interfaces to bring up the port channel:

1. Switch1:
   
   switch1# config terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line, ending with CNTL/Z.
switch1(config)# interface fc1/1, fc2/1
switch1(config-if)# no shut
 
2. Switch2:
   
   switch2# config terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line, ending with CNTL/Z.
switch2(config)# interface fc1/1, fc2/1
switch2(config-if)# no shut

Step 4: Verify the port channel has come up:

switch1# show interface port-channel 2
port-channel 2 is trunking
Port description is To switch2 PortChannel2
Hardware is Fibre Channel
Port WWN is 24:02:00:0c:85:e9:d2:c0
Admin port mode is E, trunk mode is on
Port mode is TE
Port vsan is 1
Speed is 4 Gbps
Trunk vsans (admin allowed and active) (1,10)
Trunk vsans (up) (1,10)
Trunk vsans (isolated) ()
Trunk vsans (initializing) ()
5 minutes input rate 64 bits/sec, 8 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
5 minutes output rate 56 bits/sec, 7 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec 78296342 frames input, 72311141128 bytes 0 discards, 0 errors
0 CRC, 0 unknown class
0 too long, 0 too short
56299070 frames output, 26061293700 bytes
0 discards, 0 errors
0 input OLS, 2 LRR, 0 NOS, 0 loop inits
4 output OLS, 2 LRR, 0 NOS, 0 loop inits
Member[1] : fc1/2
Member[2] : fc2/1
 

Port-Channels allow for the aggregation of multiple FC or FCIP links into a single, higher speed, fault tolerant FC or FCIP ISL. It has the same configuration options as a single link FC or FCIP ISL as far as configuration is done.