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HCIA-Datacom lab 10 of 22

Eth-Trunk link aggregation with LACP

Bundle parallel links between two switches into one logical Eth-Trunk. You start in manual mode, move to LACP, keep a third link on standby with priorities and an active-link limit, and watch it take over when a member fails.

Run this lab

It needs Lite: its 4 nodes are set to 6 vCPU and 6,144 MB in total. That fits the free demo too.

In your workspace: Shared, then HCIA-Datacom H12-811 guided labs, then 10 - Eth-Trunk link aggregation with LACP

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Level
Intermediate
Time
About 55 minutes
Nodes need
6 vCPU, 6,144 MB
Smallest plan
Lite

The scenario

The single uplink between Northwind's two server-room switches is saturated, so three links are now cabled: GE1/0/1, GE1/0/2 and GE1/0/3 on both switches. Spanning tree is off on these switches out of the box, so three parallel links are a loop waiting for its first broadcast. The PCs have no addresses yet, so the network is quiet. Bundle the links into one logical link, an Eth-Trunk, before anything starts talking: then they share the load and back each other up, and there is no loop at all.

What you’ll practise

  • Explain why parallel links need aggregation rather than spanning tree
  • Configure a manual-mode Eth-Trunk and add member ports
  • Convert to LACP (static) mode and read actor and partner information
  • Control which links are active with system and port LACP priority, max active-linknumber and preemption
  • Test member failover

The tasks

  • Task 1: Prepare the switches
  • Task 2: Build a manual Eth-Trunk
  • Task 3: Move to LACP
  • Concept: who decides which links are active
  • Task 4: Two active links and one standby
  • Task 5: Fail a member

The Lab Tasks pane has the scenario, these tasks, the checks to run, hints and the full solution.

Topology and devices

The network as it opens in EVE-NG, drawn from the lab’s own canvas, and the image each node runs.

Topology of Eth-Trunk link aggregation with LACP4 nodes, 5 links. Every link is listed as text below the diagram.SW1SW2PC1PC2GE1/0/10eth0GE1/0/10eth0GE1/0/1GE1/0/1GE1/0/2GE1/0/2GE1/0/3GE1/0/3
4 nodes, with the interface names each link uses. On a narrow screen, scroll the diagram sideways.
Every link, as text
  • SW1 GE1/0/1 to SW2 GE1/0/1
  • SW1 GE1/0/2 to SW2 GE1/0/2
  • SW1 GE1/0/3 to SW2 GE1/0/3
  • SW1 GE1/0/10 to PC1 eth0
  • SW2 GE1/0/10 to PC2 eth0
Nodes in Eth-Trunk link aggregation with LACP, with the image each runs and the vCPU and RAM it’s set to
NodeDeviceImage in Add NodeSet to
SW1Huawei CloudEngine CE6800huaweice6800-bundled2 vCPU, 2,048 MB
SW2Huawei CloudEngine CE6800huaweice6800-bundled2 vCPU, 2,048 MB
PC1VPCS hostBuilt in to EVE-NGCounted as 1 vCPU, 1,024 MB
PC2VPCS hostBuilt in to EVE-NGCounted as 1 vCPU, 1,024 MB

How to open this lab

  1. Sign in to your workspace at lab.cloudlabbox.com.

  2. In File Manager, open Shared, then the folder HCIA-Datacom H12-811 guided labs.

  3. Open 10 - Eth-Trunk link aggregation with LACP and start its nodes, then open Lab Tasks for the scenario and the steps.

The lab is read-only. You can start the nodes and configure the devices, but changes to the topology can’t be saved. To change it, rebuild it in your own folder.

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CloudLabBox is independent of Huawei. The lab follows exam topics and isn’t vendor training material; vendor names identify the exams and the images in the workspace.