Palo Alto Aggregate Ethernet Interfaces

Palo Alto Aggregate Ethernet Interfaces – PCNSE Study Guide

Overview

Aggregate Ethernet (AE) interfaces in Palo Alto Networks firewalls allow the bundling of multiple physical interfaces into a single logical interface, enhancing bandwidth and providing redundancy. This setup utilizes IEEE 802.1AX link aggregation, commonly known as LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol).

Key Considerations

Interface Compatibility: All member interfaces must share the same speed and duplex settings.
Interface Types: Supported types include Layer 2, Layer 3, Virtual Wire, and HA.
Maximum Members: Each AE group can have up to 8 member interfaces.
LACP Modes: Active or Passive. At least one side must be Active for LACP to function.
Fast Failover: Enables failover to a standby interface in less than one second.

Configuration Steps

Navigate to Network > Interfaces > Aggregate Ethernet and click Add .
Assign an interface ID (e.g., ae1) and select the desired interface type.
Enable LACP if required and configure the mode (Active/Passive) and transmission rate (Fast/Slow).
Assign physical interfaces to the AE group by editing each interface and selecting the AE group.
Configure IP addressing and security zones as needed.

Mermaid Diagram: LACP Negotiation Process

sequenceDiagram
    participant Firewall
    participant Switch

    Firewall->>Switch: LACPDU (Active)
    Switch-->>Firewall: LACPDU (Passive)
    Firewall->>Switch: Aggregation Request
    Switch-->>Firewall: Aggregation Acknowledgment
    Note over Firewall,Switch: AE Interface Established

Palo Alto Aggregate Ethernet Interfaces – PCNSE Study Guide

Overview

Key Considerations

Configuration Steps

Mermaid Diagram: LACP Negotiation Process

Interactive Quiz: Aggregate Ethernet Interfaces

1. What is the maximum number of interfaces that can be added to a single AE group?

2. Which LACP mode must be enabled on at least one side for the AE interface to function?

3. True or False: AE interfaces support mixing different interface types (e.g., Layer 2 and Layer 3) within the same group.

4. Which interface types are supported in AE groups? (Choose all that apply)

5. What is the purpose of enabling "Fast Failover" in an AE interface?

6. True or False: All member interfaces in an AE group must have the same speed and duplex settings.

7. What is the maximum number of AE groups supported on Palo Alto firewalls?

8. Which PAN-OS feature allows for automatic failover to standby interfaces in an AE group?

9. True or False: VM-Series firewalls support Aggregate Ethernet interfaces.

10. What is the default LACP transmission rate on AE interfaces?