Cisco 2960-X-48TS-LL Switch Not Providing Full "24" EtherChannel Groups

[SysAdmin_007]

Hi. I have a Cisco Catalyst 2960-X-48TS-LL switch, and I want to fully utilize the multiple links between switches for better redundancy and resiliency. I want to group several Gigabit Ethernet ports into one logical channel. 

I noticed when I typed "channel-group ?" switch output is "<1-6>! Not good in my case. The reason I purchased this particular switch was for the 24 EtherChannel groups it said it provided.

I downloaded c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E6.bin and installed the IOS, hoping that will fix my problem but still only giving us a total of 6 channel-groups. 

How can I fully utilize the 24 channel-groups for this particular switch? Is there a config I need to perform to have access to 24 channel-groups? What can I do to have 24 channel-groups?

The link below mentions 24 channel-groups 2960-X has available. Thank you for your time.

https://supportforums.cisco.com/t5/lan-switching-and-routing/how-many-port-channels-can-a-2960-x-switch-and-2960-x-stack-can/td-p/2260019

[Leo Laohoo]

My 2960X is running 15.2(5)E2 and I can see the option to configure up to 24 Etherchannel. Maybe all what's needed is to upgrade the IOS to a higher level?

[SysAdmin_007]

I installed your exact IOS version of 15.2(5)E2, and it's still showing 6 channel-groups. Its not working. Not good..

[Mark Malone]

Hmm i have the WS-C2960X-48FPS-L nearly identical in operation , i have this running c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2.EX5 and i see 24 as an option maybe worth a shot

#sh ver | i 2960x
System image file is "flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2.EX5/c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2.EX5.bin"

(config)#int g1/0/7
(config-if)#channel-group ?
  <1-24>  Channel group number

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

Ahhhhhhhh ... I know what it is.

The model you've got is LAN Lite (-LL) and not LAN Base. LAN Lite, because it's the cheapest model, can only do 6 channel-groups.

[SysAdmin_007]

Where does it say that? I'm looking at 2960 -x-48TS-LL product overview, and there's no mention of total amount available for Ether Channel-groups!

[Kevin Rivest · Accepted solution]

Your feature set, LAN Lite, does in fact only support a maximum of 6 etherchannels. In order to support up to 24 the LAN Base feature set is required.

Here is a link with the relevant information from the configuration guide:

Consolidated Platform Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS Release 15.2(5)E (Catalyst 2960-X Switches) - Configuring EtherChannels [Cisco Catalyst 2960-X Series Switches] - Cisco 

You will see under the Etherchannel Overview section the following:

"The LAN Lite feature set supports up to six EtherChannels. The LAN Base feature set supports up to 24 EtherChannels."

Hopefully that helps answer your question.

[SysAdmin_007]

Thank you.