6-13
Cisco MDS 9000 Family NX-OS Interfaces Configuration Guide
OL-29284-01, Release 6.x
Chapter 6 Configuring PortChannels
Guidelines and Limitations
Note On switches with Generation 1 switching modules, or a combination of Generation 1 and Generation 2
switching modules, you can configure a maximum of 128 PortChannels. On switches with only
Generation 2 switching modules, or Generation 2 and Generation 3 switching modules, you can
configure a maximum of 256 PortChannels.
If you misconfigure PortChannels, you may receive a misconfiguration message. If you receive this
message, the PortChannel’s physical links are disabled because an error has been detected.
A PortChannel error is detected if the following requirements are not met:
• Each switch on either side of a PortChannel must be connected to the same number of interfaces.
• Each interface must be connected to a corresponding interface on the other side (see Figure 6-8 for
an example of an invalid configuration).
• Links in a PortChannel cannot be changed after the PortChannel is configured. If you change the
links after the PortChannel is configured, be sure to reconnect the links to interfaces within the
PortChannel and reenable the links.
If all three conditions are not met, the faulty link is disabled.
Enter the show interface command for that interface to verify that the PortChannel is functioning as
required.
Guidelines and Limitations
This section includes the guidelines and limitations for this feature:
• General Guidelines and Limitations, page 6-13
• Generation 1 PortChannel Limitations, page 6-14
• F and TF PortChannel Limitations, page 6-14
• Valid and Invalid PortChannel Examples, page 6-15
General Guidelines and Limitations
Cisco MDS 9000 Family switches support the following number of PortChannels per switch:
• Switches with only Generation 1 switching modules do not support F and TF PortChannels.
• Switches with Generation 1 switching modules, or a combination of Generation 1 and Generation 2
switching modules, support a maximum of 128 PortChannels. Only Generation 2 ports can be
included in the PortChannels.
• Switches with only Generation 2 switching modules or Generation 2 and Generation 3 modules
support a maximum of 256 PortChannels with 16 interfaces per PortChannel.
• A PortChannel number refers to the unique identifier for each channel group. This number ranges
from of 1 to 256.
