L3 Routed EtherChannel Between Two Routers (LACP)

Bundle lab · $29.99

Build a Layer-3 EtherChannel between two IOS XE routers using LACP active/active. Two parallel router links are bundled into Port-channel5, which carries a /30 transit. R2 hosts a loopback; R1 installs a static route to reach it. Validate that the Port-channel holds the IP (members do not), that the bundle is up and uses both links, and that pings across the /30 and to the loopback succeed. Emphasis: deterministic EtherChannel configuration and Layer-3 port-channel practices.

Learning objectives

• Configure a routed EtherChannel (Port-channel) between two routers using LACP in mode active on both member links.
• Place the /30 transit IP on the Port-channel interface and ensure no IP addressing remains on physical members.
• Verify EtherChannel state and health with show commands and confirm reachability across the aggregated link.
• Publish a minimal route so LAN-A on R1 can reach an R2 loopback via the Layer-3 Port-channel.

Troubleshooting focus

• Verify EtherChannel modes are compatible at both ends (active/active or active/passive) and that the channel-group number matches.
• Check that IP addressing is only on Port-channel5, not on Ethernet0/0 or Ethernet0/1 members.
• Confirm both physical members are up/up and have identical Layer-1/2 parameters (speed/duplex/MTU).
• Use show etherchannel summary and show interfaces port-channel 5 to confirm LACP bundling and member status.
• If reachability to the R2 loopback fails, confirm the static route on R1 points to the R2 Port-channel IP and that the Port-channel is up.