How dynamic link aggregation works

Choosing a reference port

The system chooses a reference port from the member ports that are in up state and have the same attribute configurations as the aggregate interface. A Selected port must have the same operational key and attribute configurations as the reference port.

The local system (the actor) and the remote system (the partner) negotiate a reference port by using the following workflow:

  1. The two systems compare their system IDs to determine the system with the smaller system ID.

    A system ID contains the system LACP priority and the system MAC address.

    1. The two systems compare their LACP priority values.

      The lower the LACP priority, the smaller the system ID. If LACP priority values are the same, the two systems proceed to step b.

    2. The two systems compare their MAC addresses.

      The lower the MAC address, the smaller the system ID.

  2. The system with the smaller system ID chooses the port with the smallest port ID as the reference port.

    A port ID contains a port priority and a port number. The lower the port priority, the smaller the port ID.

    1. The system chooses the port with the lowest priority value as the reference port.

      If ports have the same priority, the system proceeds to step b.

    2. The system compares their port numbers.

      The smaller the port number, the smaller the port ID.

      The port with the smallest port number and the same attribute configurations as the aggregate interface is chosen as the reference port.

Setting the aggregation state of each member port

After the reference port is chosen, the system with the smaller system ID sets the state of each member port on its side.

Figure 10: Setting the state of a member port in a dynamic aggregation group

Meanwhile, the system with the higher system ID is aware of the aggregation state changes on the remote system. The system sets the aggregation state of local member ports the same as their peer ports.

When you aggregate interfaces in dynamic mode, follow these guidelines:

For more information about configuring the maximum number of Selected ports in a dynamic aggregation group, see "Setting the minimum and maximum numbers of Selected ports for an aggregation group."