Nexus 3548-X 40gig interface (4 x10gig) vs. port-channel

[Marc.P]

Hi - I have an environment that utilizes Nexus 3548-Xs. We have a need to increase our links between 3548s to 40gig. I've configured 40gig interfaces and know 40gig is supported. My question:

Is configuring 4 x 10gig to 1 single 40gig interface better than a 4 x10gig port-channel?

I'm looking for the best performance and no limitations on unicast or multicast traffic being sticky (to a single interface) and potentially microbursting over 10gig causing packet loss.

Thanks,

Marco

[Hanfeng Cai]

Everything has advantage and disadvantage.

Assume you're using port-channel, load-balance is per-flow, so it may got polarization or unbalanced flow by each link, but port-channel provide redundancy for links, which is function that single link can't provide. 

[Marc.P]

Yes thanks and understood - this is what I meant about unicast and multicast being sticky per interface. Assume redundancy is in place. Assume we have min interfaces on our port-channel set to 4 (meaning port-channel will drop if 1 interface fails).

On a 40gig interface (non port-channel) the flows are not limited to a single interface so unicast or multicast performance or throughput is indeed better.

Is there any hit in latency or performance in any way with a non port-channel 40gig interface vs. a port-channel?

Thanks for you quick response!

Marc

[Hanfeng Cai]

From performance aspect, there is no difference at all.