Overview

Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), standardized as IEEE 802.3ad (and later 802.1AX), allows switches to negotiate the formation of an EtherChannel dynamically.

Modes

  • Active: Actively sends LACP packets to negotiate a link.
  • Passive: Waits for LACP packets from the other side before participating.

Comparison

LACP is the industry-standard alternative to Cisco's proprietary PAgP (Port Aggregation Protocol).

Related Terms