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Cisco NX-OS data centre lab 6 of 15

LACP and Rapid PVST on NX-OS

Bundle two links into an LACP port-channel between a Nexus switch and an access switch, then use Rapid PVST+ to load-share two VLANs across two paths and fail over between them.

Run this lab

It needs Lite: its 4 nodes are set to 5 vCPU and 7,936 MB in total. That fits the free demo too.

In your workspace: Shared, then Cisco Nexus NX-OS data centre guided labs, then 06 - LACP and Rapid PVST on NX-OS

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Level
Intermediate
Time
About 60 minutes
Nodes need
5 vCPU, 7,936 MB
Smallest plan
Lite

The scenario

Hall 3's access switch SW1 needs two independent paths to N1. Two cables form a port-channel, and a third cable gives a second path. That makes a loop, so spanning tree has to block something. Instead of wasting the second path, you'll send VLAN 10 over the port-channel and VLAN 20 over the single link. SW1 is nearly ready: it wants LACP on Gi0/0-1 and it's set up to be the root bridge for VLAN 20, but nobody has created VLAN 20 on it yet.

ItemValue
VLANs10 SERVERS, 20 BACKUP. Create them on N1, and VLAN 20 on SW1.
Port-channel 1N1 Ethernet1/3-4 to SW1 Gi0/0-1. LACP active, trunk, VLANs 10 and 20.
Second pathN1 Ethernet1/7 to SW1 Gi0/2. Trunk, VLANs 10 and 20.
Root bridgesN1 for VLAN 10 (priority 4096). SW1 for VLAN 20 (priority 4096).
HostsH1 10.10.10.11/24 on N1 Ethernet1/5, H2 10.10.10.12/24 on SW1 Gi0/3, both in VLAN 10

What you’ll practise

  • Build an LACP port-channel on NX-OS and read its flags
  • Choose the root bridge per VLAN
  • Share load by steering a VLAN with port cost
  • Use the NX-OS port types: edge, network and normal
  • Fail a link and watch the alternate port take over

The tasks

  1. Start the lab
  2. An LACP port-channel
  3. The second path and the root bridges
  4. Share the load
  5. Edge ports and the host
  6. Break it

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 LACP and Rapid PVST on NX-OS4 nodes, 5 links. Every link is listed as text below the diagram.N1SW1H1H2e3Gi0/0e4Gi0/1e7Gi0/2e5eth0Gi0/3eth0
4 nodes, with the interface names each link uses.
Every link, as text
  • N1 e3 to SW1 Gi0/0
  • N1 e4 to SW1 Gi0/1
  • N1 e7 to SW1 Gi0/2
  • N1 e5 to H1 eth0
  • SW1 Gi0/3 to H2 eth0
Nodes in LACP and Rapid PVST on NX-OS, with the image each runs and the vCPU and RAM it’s set to
NodeDeviceImage in Add NodeSet to
N1Cisco Nexus 9000vnxosv9k-9300v-9.3.102 vCPU, 6,144 MB
SW1Cisco IOSvL2viosl2-adventerprisek9-m.ssa.high_iron_202009291 vCPU, 768 MB
H1Alpine Linuxclbalpinebase-alpine-base-3-20-31 vCPU, 512 MB
H2Alpine Linuxclbalpinebase-alpine-base-3-20-31 vCPU, 512 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 Cisco Nexus NX-OS data centre guided labs.

  3. Open 06 - LACP and Rapid PVST on NX-OS 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 Cisco. The lab follows exam topics and isn’t vendor training material; vendor names identify the exams and the images in the workspace.