How to configure an Etherchannel port group for use with ESX Server

Issues:

You have configured an Etherchannel port group on a Cisco switch for use with ESX Server but the port group does not show as being in use (bundled).  You may receive the following information when displaying the Etherchannel port group via the sho etherchannel # det command in the Cisco IOS.

 

Port state = Up Sngl-port-Bndl Mst Not-in-Bndl

 

However, the ESX Server and all Virtual Machines (VMs) are working correctly.

 

Cause:

The Protocol (mode) type of the Etherchannel is configured as PAgP or LACP or another unsupported version.  Look for the following line in the sho etherchannel # det command.

 

            Protocol = PAgP

 

The ESX Server and VMs are working correctly because outbound traffic is not affected, and while inbound traffic is affected (not bundled to multiple ports), the ESX Server will still receive the inbound traffic from the switch, but only on one port.

 

Solution:

To properly enable bundling of multiple switch ports to the ESX Server the protocol (mode) type should be configured as Etherchannel only (mode on) via the following Cisco IOS command

 

channel-group # mode on