EtherChannel
technology has many advantages, including the following:
•Most configuration tasks can be
done on the EtherChannel interface instead of on each individual port, ensuring
configuration consistency throughout the links.
•EtherChannel relies on existing
switch ports. There is no need to upgrade the link to a faster and more
expensive connection to have more bandwidth.
•Load balancing takes place between
links that are part of the same EtherChannel.
•EtherChannel creates an aggregation
that is seen as one logical link. When several EtherChannel bundles exist
between two switches, STP may block one of the bundles to prevent switching
loops. When STP blocks one of the redundant links, it blocks the entire
EtherChannel. This blocks all the ports belonging to that EtherChannel link.
Where there is only one EtherChannel link, all physical links in the
EtherChannel are active because STP sees only one (logical) link.
•EtherChannel provides redundancy
because the overall link is seen as one logical connection. Additionally, the
loss of one physical link within the channel does not create a change in the
topology.
