Split Multilink Trunking; Navigation - Avaya 8600 Configuration Manual

• The LACP uses peer exchanges across links to continually determine the aggregation
capability of the links and provide the maximum level of aggregation capability between
a pair of systems.
• Frame ordering is maintained for certain sequences of frame exchanges between MAC
Clients. The distributor ensures that all frames of a conversation pass to a single port.
The collector passes frames to the MAC client in the order they are received from the
port. The collector can select frames received from the aggregated ports in any order.
Since the frames are not ordered on a single link, this guarantees that frame ordering is
maintained for any conversation.
• Conversations move among ports within an aggregation for load balancing and for
maintaining availability if a link fails.
• The standard does not impose any particular distribution algorithm on the distributor. The
Avaya Ethernet Routing Switch 8800/8600 uses the MLT traffic distribution algorithm
described in
• Each port is assigned a unique, globally administered MAC address.
When entities initiate frame exchanges within the link aggregation sublayer, the source
address is the MAC address. An example of an entity that initiates frame exchanges is
LACP and Marker Protocol exchanges.
• Each aggregator is assigned a unique, globally administered MAC address that is used
from the perspective of the MAC client, both as a source address for transmitted frames
and as the destination address for received frames. You can use one of the port MAC
addresses in the associated LAG as the MAC address of the aggregator.

Split MultiLink Trunking

SMLT is an option that improves Layer 2 and Layer 3 resiliency. The following sections discuss
SMLT in more detail.

Navigation

• SMLT overview
• SMLT versus STP
• SMLT topologies
• SMLT and Interswitch trunking
• SMLT environment traffic flow rules
• SMLT and IST traffic flow example
• Single Port SMLT
Configuration — Link Aggregation, MLT, and SMLT
MLT traffic distribution algorithm
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Split MultiLink Trunking
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