Administrator Guide

Switch Feature Overview 87
of-order frames. Devices unable to buffer the requisite number of frames will
show excessive frame discard. Configuring copper and fiber ports together in
an aggregation group is not recommended.
Link Aggregate Control Protocol (LACP)
Link Aggregate Control Protocol (LACP) uses peer exchanges across links to
determine, on an ongoing basis, the aggregation capability of various links,
and continuously provides the maximum level of aggregation capability
achievable between a given pair of systems. LACP automatically determines,
configures, binds, and monitors the binding of ports to aggregators within the
system.
Multi-Switch LAG (MLAG)
Dell Networking N-Series switches support the MLAG feature to extend the
LAG bandwidth advantage across multiple Dell Networking N-Series
switches connected to a LAG partner device. The LAG partner device is
unaware that it is connected to two peer Dell Networking N-Series switches;
instead, the two switches appear as a single switch to the partner. When using
MLAG, all links can carry data traffic across a physically diverse topology and,
in the case of a link or switch failure, traffic can continue to flow with
minimal disruption.
NOTE: This feature is not available on Dell Networking N1500 Series switches. It
is also not available on N3000 Series switches running the AGGREGATION
ROUTER image.