Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is an IEEE 802.1AX standards-based protocol
that allows two partner systems to dynamically negotiate attributes of physical links
between them to form port-channels.
If LACP determines that a link can be
aggregated into a LAG, LACP puts the link into the LAG. All links in a LAG inherit the
same administrative characteristics.
LACP operates in two modes:
Active
mode—LACP initiates protocol data unit (PDU) exchanges, regardless of
whether the partner system sends LACP PDUs.
Passive
mode—LACP responds to PDUs initiated by its partner system, but does not
initiate the LACP PDU exchange.
The LACP process collects and distributes
Ethernet frames. The collection and distribution process implements:
Inserting and capturing control
LACP protocol data units (PDUs).
Restricting the traffic of a
given conversation to a specific link.
Load-balancing links.
Handling dynamic changes in LAG
membership.
On each port, link aggregation control:
Maintains configuration
information to control port aggregation.
Exchanges configuration
information with other devices to form LAGs.
Attaches ports to and detaches
ports from the aggregator when they join or leave a LAG.
Enables or disables an
aggregator‘s frame collection and distribution functions.
