Link Aggregation; Chapter 34 Link Aggregation; Link Aggregation Overview; What You Can Do - ZyXEL Communications XS3800-28 User Manual

34.1 Link Aggregation Overview

This chapter shows you how to logically aggregate physical links to form one logical, higher-bandwidth
link.
Link aggregation (trunking) is the grouping of physical ports into one logical higher-capacity link. You
may want to trunk ports if for example, it is cheaper to use multiple lower-speed links than to under-utilize
a high-speed, but more costly, single-port link. However, the more ports you aggregate then the fewer
available ports you have. A trunk group is one logical link containing multiple ports.
The beginning port of each trunk group must be physically connected to form a trunk group.

34.1.1 What You Can Do

• Use the Link Aggregation Status screen
to be in the trunk group, ports that are currently transmitting data as one logical link in the trunk group
and so on.
• Use the Link Aggregation Setting screen
aggregation.
• Use the Link Aggregation Control Protocol screen
Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP).

34.1.2 What You Need to Know

The Switch supports both static and dynamic link aggregation.
Note: In a properly planned network, it is recommended to implement static link aggregation
only. This ensures increased network stability and control over the trunk groups on your
Switch.
See Section 34.5.1 on page 232
Dynamic Link Aggregation
The Switch adheres to the IEEE 802.3ad standard for static and dynamic (LACP) port trunking.
The IEEE 802.3ad standard describes the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) for dynamically
creating and managing trunk groups.
When you enable LACP link aggregation on a port, the port can automatically negotiate with the ports
at the remote end of a link to establish trunk groups. LACP also allows port redundancy, that is, if an

Chapter 34 Link Aggregation

C

Link Aggregation

(Section 34.2 on page
(Section 34.3 on page
(Section 34.4 on page
for a static port trunking example.
XS3800-28 User's Guide
224
H A P T E R
225) to view ports you have configured
227) to configure static link
229) to enable Link
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