3Com Switch 8800 Advanced Software V5 Configuration Guide

8
LINK AGGREGATION OVERVIEW
When configuring link aggregation, go to these sections for information you are
interesting in:
■ “Link Aggregation” on page 69
■ “Approaches to Link Aggregation” on page 71
■ “Load Sharing in a Link Aggregation Group” on page 73
■ “Service Loop Group” on page 74
■ “Link Aggregation Port Group” on page 75
Link Aggregation Link aggregation aggregates multiple physical Ethernet ports into one logical link,
also called a logical group, to increase reliability and bandwidth. Link aggregation
allows you to increase bandwidth by distributing incoming/outgoing traffic on the
member ports in an aggregation group. In addition, it provides reliable
connectivity because these member ports can dynamically back up each other.
This section covers these topics:
■ “LACP” on page 69
■ “Consistency Considerations for Ports in an Aggregation Group” on page 70
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Note the following when employing link aggregation on a Switch 8800:
■ Up to 31 link aggregation groups are supported on a switch.
■ Up to 31 link aggregation groups are supported on 3C17526 4-port 10 Gig
module. However, ports on modules of this type cannot be added to
aggregation groups.
■ Up to 7 link aggregation groups are supported on Advanced Modules, or in
system containing an Advanced Module.
■ For modules other than the above mentioned, up to 31 link aggregation
groups are supported.
■ To enable load being properly shared among ports in an aggregation group,
make sure the number of the aggregation groups created on a module is not
larger than that the module can accommodate.
LACP The link aggregation control protocol (LACP), as defined in IEEE 802.3ad,
dynamically aggregates ports and removes aggregations.
LACP interacts with its peer by sending link aggregation control protocol data
units (LACPDUs).