New Training: Deploy Multi-Chassis Link Aggregations (MC-LAG) on Junos Bridges

In this 10-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer Knox Hutchinson covers the steps to deploy Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation (MC-LAG) on Junos devices. Watch this new training.

Learn with one of these courses:

• Enterprise Routing and Switching Specialist

• Service Provider Routing and Switching Specialist

This training includes:

• 10 videos

• 1 hour of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• Introducing MC-LAG

• The Benefits of MC-LAG Explained

• MC-LAG State Types

• Configure the CE LAG

• Configure the Inter-chassis Link (ICL) for MC-LAG

• Configure Inter-Control Center Communications Protocol (ICCP)

• Configure Active-Standby LACP and MC-AE Interface Settings

• Validating the Configuration

• Configure Active-Active MC-LAG

• Summarizing MC-LAG

What is a Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Group (MC-LAG)?

A multi-chassis link aggregation group (MC-LAG) is a link aggregation group (LAG) in which the ports terminate on a different chassis for the purpose of redundancy in case one chassis fails. The implementation of a MC-LAG is vendor dependent, so the protocols are proprietary and independent of the IEEE 802.1AX-2008 standard that defines LAGs in general. Though they're all compliant with the standard.

With a MC-LAG, multiple nodes share a common endpoint. These nodes, in turn, represent a single logical LAG. In an MC-LAG cluster, nodes synchronize and negotiate automatic failovers. In some implementations of MC-LAG, it is also possible for an administrator to initiate a manual failover. You can configure nodes in multiple ways and between multiple vendors.

There are dozens of different MC-LAG implementations. Some manufacturers, such as Cisco, have multiple implementations of it.

The IEEE has designed an alternative to MC-LAG that is non-proprietary, which is called 802.1aq.