Create a Link Aggregation Group

To migrate the network traffic of distributed port groups to a link aggregation group (LAG), you create a LAG on the distributed switch.

Procedure

1. In the vSphere Client, navigate to the distributed switch.
2. On the Configure tab, expand Settings and select LACP.
3. Click the New Link Aggregation Group icon.
4. Name the new LAG.
5. Set the number of ports to the LAG.
   Set the same number of ports to the LAG as the number of ports in the LACP port channel on the physical switch. A LAG port has the same function as an uplink on the distributed switch. All LAG ports form a NIC team in the context of the LAG.
6. Select the LACP negotiating mode of the LAG.

   Option	Description
   Active	All LAG ports are in an Active negotiating mode. The LAG ports initiate negotiations with the LACP port channel on the physical switch by sending LACP packets.
   Passive	The LAG ports are in Passive negotiating mode. The LAG ports respond to LACP packets they receive but do not initiate LACP negotiation.

   If the LACP-enabled ports on the physical switch are in Active negotiating mode, you can set the LAG ports in Passive mode and the reverse.
7. Select a load balancing mode from the hashing algorithms that LACP defines.
   Note: The hashing algorithm must be the same as the hashing algorithm set to the LACP port channel on the physical switch.
8. Select the link aggregation timeout mode.
   Periodic transmissions of LACP PDUs occur at either a slow or fast transmission rate, depending upon the LACP timeout preference you select. In a fast timeout, PDUs are sent every second, and, in a slow timeout, PDUs are sent every 30 seconds. A slow timeout is the default setting.

   Note: A fast timeout is supported only on distributed switch version 7.0.2 or later.
9. Set the VLAN and the NetFlow policies for the LAG.
   This option is active when overriding the VLAN and NetFlow policies per individual uplink ports is enabled on the uplink port group. If you set the VLAN and NetFlow policies to the LAG, they override the policies set on the uplink port group level.
10. Click OK.

Results

The new LAG is unused in the teaming and failover order of distributed port groups. No physical NICs are assigned to the LAG ports.

As with standalone uplinks, the LAG has a representation on every host that is associated with the distributed switch. For example, if you create LAG1 with two ports on the distributed switch, a LAG1 with two ports is created on every host that is associated with the distributed switch.

What to do next

Set the LAG as standby in the teaming and failover configuration of distributed port groups. In this way, you create an intermediate configuration that lets you migrate the network traffic to the LAG without losing network connectivity.