EtherChannel
EtherChannel is a technology that was originally developed by Cisco. It is a LAN switch-to-switch technique of grouping several Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet ports into one logical channel.
When EtherChannel is configured, the resulting virtual interface is called a port channel. The physical interfaces are bundled together into a port channel interface.
Configuring all ports that are required for EtherChannels as static trunk ports
Configuring Trunk Ports on a range of interfaces
S1(config)# interface range FastEthernet 0/1 - 2 S1(config-if-range)# switchport mode trunk S1(config-if-range)# exit
Note: If the ports are configured with DTP dynamic auto mode, and you do not set the mode of the ports to trunk, the links do not form trunks and remain access ports. The default mode on a 2960 switch is for DTP to be enabled and set to dynamic auto. DTP can be disabled on interfaces with the switchport nonegotiate command.
Disable Dynamic Trunking Protocol on the interfaces being used
Disable DTP on an Interface
S1(config)# interface range FastEthernet 0/1 - 2 S1(config-if-range)# switchport nonegotiate