LAG management

You can create link aggregation groups (LAGs) from the Edge Links view. The system supports the creation of LAGs that include multiple ports on a single leaf node, and also multi-home LAGs (MH-LAGs) that include ports on multiple leaf nodes. For MH-LAGS, the ports should be located on leaf nodes within the same fabric.

Creating LAGs

You can designate multiple edge links on the nodes managed by the Fabric Services System to be aggregated into a LAG. The system supports the creation of both LACP LAGs and Static LAGs.
Note:

LAG configuration is not supported on the initial version of a fabric intent. To configure a LAG, you must first save and deploy Version 1.0 of the fabric intent, and then create a new version of the intent. You can configure LAGs for Version 2.0 and greater of a fabric intent.

  1. Choose one of the following:
    • If you are configuring a LAG for a fabric intent that is already deployed, begin by creating a new candidate version of the existing fabric intent. Then go to step 2.
    • If you are configuring a LAG for Version 2.0 or greater of a fabric intent that has not yet been deployed, go to step 2.
  2. Click the menu.
  3. Select Fabric Intents.
  4. To open a specific fabric intent from the list, do one of the following:
    • Double-click the row for that fabric intent.
    • Select a row, click the icon at the right edge of that row, and select Open from the displayed action list.
  5. Click the View drop-down list and select Edge-Links.
  6. Click + CREATE A LAG to begin creating a LAG from the available downlink interfaces.
    If + CREATE A LAG is disabled, make sure your fabric intent has not been deployed. If it is deployed, you must create a new candidate version to create LAGs.
  7. In the LAG Details view, define basic properties for the LAG:

    • Name

    • LAG Type: either LACP or Static.
    • MultiHoming: enable or disable the ability to include ports from different nodes in the same LAG.
    • If you enabled multihoming, select a LAG mode. This can be either All Active, Single Active, or Port Active:
      • All Active: the default selection, this option leaves all links participating in the LAG active.
      • Single Active: optionally enable Single Active to keep a single link in the LAG active while the other is in standby mode.
        Note: In Single active mode, the physical interfaces within the same LAG all remain operationally up. However each sub-interface associated with a network-instance has its operational state up or down based on whether it is selected to be the active or standby sub-interface.

        After you enable Single Active, the Preferred Active drop-down list displays. After you add edge link interfaces in the LAG as described in step 8, you can use this drop-down to select a participating link within the LAG to be active.

        Enable the Revertive option if you want traffic that has been switched to the standby link to return to the preferred active link after the fault is resolved.

      • Port Active: optionally enable Port Active to keep a single link active while the other is in standby mode. If Single Active is disabled, both links are active.
        Note: In Port Active mode, the active and standby function is handled at the interface level. Standby interfaces are operationally down and only forward traffic to the active interface.

        After you enable Port Active, the Preferred Active drop-down list displays. After you add edge link interfaces in the LAG as described in step 8, you can use this drop-down to select a participating link within the LAG to be active.

        Enable the Revertive option if you want traffic that has been switched to the standby link to return to the preferred active link after the fault is resolved.

    • Lag Speed

      Note: The system does not validate that the ports you select as part of the LAG can support the speed you select here. If the configuration is invalid, the system notifies you (and informs you of the reason for failure) when you try to deploy the fabric intent.
    • Optionally configure Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) settings:
      • LACP Interval: choose either Fast or Slow LACP internal modes.
      • LACP Fallback: enable to LACP Fallback to allow one or more designated links of an LACP-controlled LAG to go into forwarding mode if LACP is not operational after a configured timeout period..

        When enabled, the additional fields below are available.

      • LACP Fallback Timeout: Specify a timeout value in seconds after which the forwarding mode will be triggered.
      • LACP Fallback Preferred Interface: Select one interface within the LAG to become active if LACP fallback is triggered.
        Note: You must add a set of edge links to this LAG before you can select one of them in this field.
  8. Add the edge link interfaces to constitute the LAG:
    1. Click + ADD EDGE LINK INTERFACES.
    2. Select any number of edge link interfaces by checking the box at the left edge of the downlink interface's row.
      Note: If you did not enable MultiHoming, all of the interfaces you select must be located on the same node.
    3. When you have selected the participating edge link interfaces, click ADD.
      The system returns you to the LAG Details overlay, and the downlink interfaces you selected are now displayed in the Edge Link Interfaces panel.
  9. Click SAVE.
    Note: You do not need to configure anything in the Local LAG IDs panel. That list updates automatically to show previously configured LAGs.
    The system returns you to the Edge Links view, and the LAG you created is now displayed in the list as an additional edge link.
  10. You can return to the Fabric Design view or open another view by making the corresponding selection from the View drop-down list.