Link Aggregation, which types are there?

So, you want to know about Link aggregation types?
You’ve come to the right place! (Disclamer, this blog will be used to understand the difference between dynamic and static LaG, further blogs will come.)

Static & Dynamic LAG

Link aggregation can be set in either one of two ways.

Staticaly
Dynamicaly

Both static and Dynamic LAG are viable in a production environment, and it’s good to knwo that Dynamic LAG is more commonly used becuase it provides automatic link negotiation, failure detection and recovery.

Let’s Review some 10 points about the differences between Static and Dynamic LAG

1️⃣ Failure Handling: Why is Dynamic LAG Better?

Static LAG does not monitor the health of individual links within the aggregation group. If a link fails, the system continues to send traffic to it, causing packet loss until an administrator manually reconfigures the LAG.
Dynamic LAG (LACP) actively monitors link status and removes failed links automatically, ensuring that traffic continues to flow over the remaining working links. Some implementations can even re-add the link if it recovers.

📌 Key Benefit: Dynamic LAG provides automatic failure recovery, reducing downtime.

2️⃣ Automation: Why Does Dynamic LAG Reduce Configuration Errors?

In Static LAG, all ports must have the same configuration (speed, duplex, MTU, etc.). Mismatched settings result in manual troubleshooting.
Dynamic LAG (LACP) automatically negotiates settings for compatibility. Ports with mismatched settings are rejected by LACP, preventing failures.

📌 Key Benefit: Reduces human error and speeds up deployment.

3️⃣ Traffic Load Balancing: Does Static LAG Support It?

Yes, Static LAG can load balance traffic across aggregated links. However, it relies on a static hashing algorithm, typically based on parameters like source/destination MAC/IP or TCP/UDP ports. This means traffic may not always be distributed evenly.
Dynamic LAG (LACP) can dynamically adjust load balancing based on link utilization, offering better efficiency in high-traffic environments.

📌 Key Benefit: Dynamic LAG provides better and more flexible load balancing.

4️⃣ Speed & Port Matching: The Risk of Mismatches

Static LAG requires manual configuration of all participating ports on both devices, ensuring identical speed, duplex, and number of aggregated links. A misconfiguration results in link failure.
Dynamic LAG (LACP) prevents mismatches by negotiating settings automatically. If one switch has 3 links configured and the other has 4, LACP will adjust and only use 3.

📌 Key Benefit: Dynamic LAG prevents downtime caused by configuration errors.

5️⃣ Scalability: Why Does Static LAG Struggle?

Static LAG requires administrators to manually configure each new link, which becomes time-consuming as networks grow.
Dynamic LAG allows flexible scaling, as new links can be added dynamically without disrupting existing connections.

📌 Key Benefit: Dynamic LAG scales better for enterprise and cloud environments.

6️⃣ Cross-Vendor Compatibility: Does Static LAG Always Work?

Static LAG can work across different vendors, but it requires exactly matching configurations on both sides.
LACP (Dynamic LAG) is an open standard, allowing automatic negotiation between different vendors. However, not all vendors support LACP equally, which can sometimes cause issues.
PAgP is Cisco-only, meaning it cannot be used with non-Cisco devices.

📌 Key Benefit: LACP is the preferred choice in multi-vendor networks.

7️⃣ Configuration Complexity: Which One is Easier to Deploy?

Static LAG is technically simpler to configure but requires more effort because all settings must match manually.
Dynamic LAG requires understanding of protocols like LACP, but once set up, it automates most of the process.

📌 Key Benefit: Dynamic LAG reduces long-term administrative overhead.

8️⃣ Network Stability: How Does LACP Improve Resilience?

Static LAG cannot detect link failures, meaning traffic could be sent over a non-working link until an administrator fixes it.
Dynamic LAG can detect failures in real-time, automatically adjusting active links to keep traffic flowing.

📌 Key Benefit: Dynamic LAG prevents unexpected outages due to link failures.

9️⃣ Use in Production: When is Static LAG Still Used?

Static LAG is still viable in small networks where manual control is preferred.
Dynamic LAG is widely used in enterprise environments, where automation and resilience are critical.

📌 Key Benefit: Dynamic LAG is the industry standard for large-scale deployments.

🔟 When to Use Static vs. Dynamic LAG?

✅ Use Static LAG when:

You have a small and controlled environment (e.g., a lab setup or PoC).
You need full manual control over LAG configuration.
Your devices do not support LACP.

✅ Use Dynamic LAG (LACP) when:

You need better fault tolerance and automatic recovery.
You are working in a large-scale production environment.
Your network includes multiple vendors and needs standardization.

📌 Key Benefit: LACP is the preferred method for most real-world applications.

In Summary

When you have the possibility to use Dynamic LAG you should use it, it will save you time, money and a headache.