Convert to the Enhanced LACP Support on a vSphere Distributed Switch

After upgrading a vSphere Distributed Switch from version 5.1 to version 5.5, 6.0, or 6.5, you can convert to the enhanced LACP support to create multiple LAGs on the distributed switch.

If an LACP configuration exists on the distributed switch, enhancing the LACP support creates a new LAG and migrates all physical NICs from the standalone uplinks to the LAG ports. To create a different LACP configuration, you should deactivate the LACP support on the uplink port group before you start the conversion.

If the conversion to the enhanced LACP support fails, see vSphere Troubleshooting for details about how to complete it manually.

Prerequisites

• Verify that the vSphere Distributed Switch is version 5.5, 6.0 or 6.5.
• Verify that none of the distributed port groups permit overriding their uplink teaming policy on individual ports.
• If you convert from an existing LACP configuration, verify that only one uplink port group exists on the distributed switch.
• Verify that hosts that participate in the distributed switch are connected and responding.
• Verify that you have the dvPort group.Modify privilege on the distributed port groups on the switch.
• Verify that you have the Host.Configuration.Modify privilege on the hosts on the distributed switch.

Note: When you upgrade a vSphere Distributed Switch from version 5.1 to version 6.5, the LACP support is enhanced automatically. If basic LACP support was enabled on the distributed switch before the upgrade, the LACP support should be enhanced manually.

Procedure

1. In the vSphere Web Client, navigate to the distributed switch.
2. Select Summary.
3. In the Features section, click Enhance next to Link Aggregation Control Protocol.
4. (Optional) Select Export configuration to back up the configuration of the distributed switch and click Next.
   The backup only stores the distributed switch configuration on the vCenter Server side. If the conversion to the enhanced LACP support fails, you can either use the backup to create a new distributed switch with the same configuration, or complete the conversion manually.
5. Review the validation prerequisites.

   Prerequisite	Description
   Port group accessibility	You have enough privileges to access and modify the uplink and distributed port groups on the switch.
   LACP configuration	You have only one uplink port group on the distributed switch.
   Uplink teaming policy override	Distributed port groups do not permit the override of their uplink teaming policy on individual ports.
   Host accessibility	You have enough privileges to modify the networking configuration of the hosts connected to the distributed switch.
   Host connectivity	Hosts that participate in the distributed switch are connected and responding.

6. Click Next.
7. If you convert from an existing LACP configuration, type the name of the new LAG in the Name text field.
8. Click Next to review the details about the conversion and click Finish.

Results

You converted to the Enhanced LACP support on the vSphere Distributed Switch.

What to do next

Create LAGs on the distributed switch to aggregate the bandwidth of multiple physical NICs on the associated hosts.