Which protocol is used to create a port channel when aggregating multiple 10G ports for higher bandwidth on a switch?

Which protocol is used to create a port channel when aggregating multiple 10G ports for higher bandwidth on a switch?

• A. Spanning Tree Protocol
• B. VRRP
• C. OSPF
• D. Link Aggregation Control Protocol

Answer: (D)

Link Aggregation Control Protocol is the mechanism that negotiates and maintains a port channel when you want to combine multiple 10G links into a single logical link. It runs between connected devices and decides which physical links form the bundle, detects when a link fails, and updates the bundle so traffic can continue flowing over the remaining active links. This protocol is part of the standards for link aggregation (IEEE 802.1AX/802.1AD), and it supports active or passive modes to control how negotiation happens. Once the port channel is established, traffic is distributed across the member links using a hashing method that factors in headers like source and destination addresses, VLAN, or other fields. This provides higher aggregate bandwidth and redundancy. Spanning Tree Protocol focuses on preventing loops, not increasing link capacity. VRRP is for gateway redundancy, and OSPF is a routing protocol. The one that specifically enables creating and managing a bonded group of links is Link Aggregation Control Protocol.

Link Aggregation Control Protocol is the mechanism that negotiates and maintains a port channel when you want to combine multiple 10G links into a single logical link. It runs between connected devices and decides which physical links form the bundle, detects when a link fails, and updates the bundle so traffic can continue flowing over the remaining active links. This protocol is part of the standards for link aggregation (IEEE 802.1AX/802.1AD), and it supports active or passive modes to control how negotiation happens.

Once the port channel is established, traffic is distributed across the member links using a hashing method that factors in headers like source and destination addresses, VLAN, or other fields. This provides higher aggregate bandwidth and redundancy.

Spanning Tree Protocol focuses on preventing loops, not increasing link capacity. VRRP is for gateway redundancy, and OSPF is a routing protocol. The one that specifically enables creating and managing a bonded group of links is Link Aggregation Control Protocol.