Configuring Ethernet Link Aggregation; Basic Concepts; Aggregation Group, Member Port, And Aggregate Interface - HP 6125XLG Configuration Manual

Configuring Ethernet link aggregation

Ethernet link aggregation bundles multiple physical Ethernet links into one logical link, called an
aggregate link. Link aggregation has the following benefits:
• Increased bandwidth beyond the limits of any single link. In an aggregate link, traffic is distributed
across the member ports.
Improved link reliability. The member ports dynamically back up one another. When a member
•
port fails, its traffic is automatically switched to other member ports.
As shown in
physical Ethernet links are combined into an aggregate link called link aggregation 1. The bandwidth of
this aggregate link can reach up to the total bandwidth of the three physical Ethernet links. At the same
time, the three Ethernet links back up one another. When a physical Ethernet link fails, the traffic
previously carried on the failed link is switched to the other two links.
Figure 8 Ethernet link aggregation diagram

Basic concepts

Aggregation group, member port, and aggregate interface

An aggregation group is a group of Ethernet interfaces bundled together. These Ethernet interfaces are
called member ports of the aggregation group. Each aggregation group has a corresponding logical
interface (called an aggregate interface).
When you create an aggregate interface, the device automatically creates an aggregation group of the
same type and number as the aggregate interface. For example, when you create aggregate interface
1, the device automatically creates aggregation group 1.
Aggregate interfaces include Layer 2 aggregate interfaces and Layer 3 aggregate interfaces.
You can assign Layer 2 Ethernet interfaces only to a Layer 2 aggregation group, and Layer 3 Ethernet
interfaces only to a Layer 3 aggregation group.
On a Layer 3 aggregate interface, you can create subinterfaces.
NOTE:
You can use the port link-mode command to configure an Ethernet port as a Layer 2 or Layer 3 interface
(see "Configuring Ethernet
The port rate of an aggregate interface equals the total rate of its Selected member ports. Its duplex
mode is the same as that of the Selected member ports. For more information about the states of member
ports in an aggregation group, see
Figure 8, Device A and Device B are connected by three physical Ethernet links. These
interfaces").
"Aggregation states of member ports in an aggregation
37
group."