LACP EtherChannel: Connect 2 Cisco Switches Using Two Links

In this lab, we’ll use LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) to combine two switch links into one logical connection called an EtherChannel.

This provides redundancy if one link fails.

1. Network Topology

Devices:

• 2 Cisco 2960 switches
• 2 PCs

Connections:

• SW1 Gi0/1 ↔ SW2 Gi0/1
• SW1 Gi0/2 ↔ SW2 Gi0/2
• PC1 → SW1 Fa0/1
• PC2 → SW2 Fa0/1

IP Addressing:

• PC1: 192.168.10.10/24
• PC2: 192.168.10.20/24
• VLAN: 10

No router is needed.

2. Configure SW1

enable
configure terminal
hostname SW1

vlan 10
 name LAB
exit
interface FastEthernet0/1
 switchport mode access
 switchport access vlan 10
exit
interface range GigabitEthernet0/1 - 2
 switchport mode trunk
 channel-group 1 mode active
exit
interface Port-channel1
 switchport mode trunk
exit
end
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3. Configure SW2

enable
configure terminal
hostname SW2

vlan 10
 name LAB
exit
interface FastEthernet0/1
 switchport mode access
 switchport access vlan 10
exit
interface range GigabitEthernet0/1 - 2
 switchport mode trunk
 channel-group 1 mode active
exit
interface Port-channel1
 switchport mode trunk
exit
end
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Key command: channel-group 1 mode active

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This enables LACP and groups the two ports into Port-channel1.

4. Verify EtherChannel

On both switches:

show etherchannel summary
show interfaces trunk
show vlan brief

In the EtherChannel summary, look for:

• Po1(SU) — Layer 2 Port-channel is in use.
• Gi0/1(P) — First link is bundled.
• Gi0/2(P) — Second link is bundled.

5. Test Connectivity

From PC1:

ping 192.168.10.20

The ping should succeed when both switches and VLAN 10 are configured correctly.

Optional: Test Link Failure

On SW1, disable one EtherChannel member:

configure terminal
interface GigabitEthernet0/2
 shutdown
end

Check again:

show etherchannel summary

Then ping PC2 again.

If LACP and link-failure handling work correctly, the remaining link should keep traffic flowing.

Restore the link:

configure terminal
interface GigabitEthernet0/2
 no shutdown
end

Conclusion

We configured LACP EtherChannel between two Cisco switches.

LACP combines physical interfaces into one logical connection and helps maintain network availability when a member link fails.

Main takeaway: Two physical links, one logical Port-channel.

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