Quick Reference Guide

PowerConnect B-Series TI24X Configuration Guide 311
53-1002269-02
Chapter
11
Configuring Trunk Groups and Dynamic Link Aggregation
Trunk group overview
The Trunk group feature allows you to manually configure multiple high-speed load-sharing links
between two Layer 2 Switches or Layer 3 Switches or between a Layer 2 Switch and Layer 3 Switch
and a server.
In addition to enabling load sharing of traffic, trunk groups provide redundant, alternate paths for
traffic if any of the segments fail.
• Trunk groups are manually-configured aggregate links containing multiple ports.
• 802.3ad link aggregation is a protocol that dynamically creates and manages trunk groups.
NOTE
You can use both types of trunking on the same device. However, you can use only one type of
trunking for a given port. For example, you can configure port 1 as a member of a static trunk group
or you can enable 802.3ad link aggregation on the port, but you cannot do both.
Figure 74 shows an example of a configuration that uses trunk groups.
FIGURE 74 Trunk group application within a network
NOTE
The ports in a trunk group make a single logical link. Therefore, all the ports in a trunk group must
be connected to the same device at the other end.
...
Gigabit
Backbone
Trunk
Group
Server
Power Users
Dedicated 100 Mbps
Trunk
Group
Switch2
Switch1
Switch