Configuring Ethernet Link Bundles in Cisco IOS XR (ASR 9000)

Rashmi Bhardwaj | Blog,BUZZ,Config & Troubleshoot,Protocol,Routing & Switching
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Link bundling is an IOS XR term of Etherchannel. The Link Bundling feature in Cisco IOS XR (ASR 9000 family works on IOS XR) allows you to group multiple point-to-point links together into one logical link hence providing higher throughput, redundancy and load balancing between two routers.

Related – Cisco Pipe Commands Cheat Sheet

In other words, a link bundle is a group of one or more ports that are aggregated together and treated as a single link. Each bundle has a single MAC, a single IP address, and a single configuration set

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Cisco ASR 9000 Series Router supports both Layer 2 and Layer 3 Link Bundles.

If the Link Bundle is –

  • Layer 3 interface – an IP address is required
  • Layer 2 interface – an IP address is not required.

A Link Bundle on the Cisco ASR 9000 Series Router may contain Layer 2 and Layer 3 subinterfaces within it. In which case,

In the case of subinterfaces –

  • Layer 3 subinterfaces – requires IP address
  • Link Bundle interface – does not require an IP address.

Below is a simple diagram depicting Link Bundle created between 2 Cisco ASR 9000 Routers running IOS XR –

cisco bundle ethernet

 

CONFIGURATION –

The step by step configuration on each router for bringing up Link Bundle (in IOS XR) is as below –

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router# configureRP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router#(config)# interface Bundle-Ether 2

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# ipv4 address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# bundle minimum-active links 2 >>>>>> minimal of 2 links should be up before the bundle link can be brought up

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config)# interface TenGigE 0/0/0/1

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# bundle-id 2 mode active >>>>>> will enable active LACP in bundle

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# no shutdown

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# exit

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config)# interface TenGigE 0/0/0/2

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# bundle id 2 mode active >>>>>> will enable active LACP in bundle

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# no shutdown

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# exit

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config)# interface TenGigE 0/0/0/3

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# bundle id 2 mode active >>>>>> will enable active LACP in bundle

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# no shutdown

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# exit

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config)# interface TenGigE 0/0/0/4

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# bundle id 2 mode active >>>>>> will enable active LACP in bundle

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# no shutdown

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# exit

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router(config-if)# end      

VERIFICATION –

Once the configuration is performed , below command will help verify the Bundle members and related protocols and mechanisms in use like “LACP/PAGP/On” , “minimal active links” etc

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:router# show bundle Bundle-Ether 2Bundle-Ether2

Status:                                                                                               Up

Local links <active/standby/configured>:                               4 / 0 / 4

Local bandwidth <effective/available>:                                  80000000 (80000000) kbps

MAC address (source):                                                               0001.0002.0003 (Chassis pool)

Inter-chassis link:                                                                        No

Minimum active links / bandwidth:                                         2 / 1 kbps

Maximum active links:                                                               64

Wait while timer:                                                                         2000 ms

Load balancing:                                                                            Default

LACP:                                                                                             Operational

Flap suppression timer:                                                              Off

Cisco extensions:                                                                         Disabled

mLACP:                                                                                         Not configured

IPv4 BFD:                                                                                      Not configured

Port                     Device                 State                 Port ID                             B/W,      kbps

——————– —————        ———–              ————–                         ———-

Te0/0/0/1           Local                   Active                   0x8000, 0x0002            1000000

Link is Active

Te0/0/0/2           Local                   Active                   0x8000, 0x001a             1000000

Link is Active

Te0/0/0/3           Local                   Active                   0x8000, 0x0009             1000000

Link is Active

Te0/0/0/4           Local                   Active                   0x8000, 0x0001             1000000

Link is Active   

 

Related Articles – LACP Guide

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