Configuring Ethernet Link Aggregation; Basic Concepts; Aggregation Group, Member Port, And Aggregate Interface; Aggregation States Of Member Ports In An Aggregation Group - HPE FlexFabric 5940 Series 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 transmitted 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 an aggregate interface is created, the device automatically creates an aggregation group of
the same type and number as the aggregate interface.
An aggregate interface can be one of the following types:
•
Layer 2—A Layer 2 aggregate interface is created manually. The member ports of the
corresponding Layer 2 aggregation group can only be Layer 2 Ethernet interfaces.
•
Layer 3—A Layer 3 aggregate interface is created manually. The member ports of the
corresponding Layer 3 aggregation group can only be Layer 3 Ethernet interfaces.
On a Layer 3 aggregate interface, you can create subinterfaces.
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 Selected
member ports, see

Aggregation states of member ports in an aggregation group

A member port in an aggregation group can be in any of the following aggregation states:
•
Selected—A Selected port can forward traffic.
•
Unselected—An Unselected port cannot forward traffic.
•
Individual—An Individual port can forward traffic as a normal physical port. A port is placed in
the Individual state when the following conditions exist:
Figure 8, Device A and Device B are connected by three physical Ethernet links. These
"Aggregation states of member ports in an aggregation
41
group."