Link Aggregation - Intel 470F - NetStructure Switch User Manual

C H A P T E
470T Ch2.p65
R 2 Using the Intel® NetStructure™ 470T and 470F Switches

Link Aggregation

Link aggregation allows you to combine from two to four (adjacent) ports
so that they function as a single high-speed link. For example, link
aggregation is useful when making connections between switches or
connecting servers to the switch.
Link aggregation, sometimes known as port trunking, is used to increase the
bandwidth to some devices. Link aggregation can also provide a redundant
link for fault tolerance. If one link in the aggregation fails, the switch
balances the traffic among the remaining links.
To aggregate ports, you must link an "anchor" port with an adjacent port.
The 470 switches support up to four link aggregation groups (anchor ports
1,3, 5, or 7). All aggregated ports must be the same speed.
Guidelines
• The switch treats aggregated links as a single port. This includes
spanning tree and VLAN configurations.
• For the 470F: Anchor ports 1, 3, and 5 can each have up to four
aggregated ports; anchor port 7 can have two.
• For the 470T: Anchor ports 1 and 3 can each have up to four aggregated
ports; anchor ports 5 and 7 can each have two.
• All ports share the same settings as the anchor port. You can change
anchor port settings, but you cannot configure other ports in the link.
• When a port is configured as a member of an aggregated link, it adopts
the configuration of the anchor port. When a port is no longer a member
of an aggregated link, the configuration is reset to the default settings
(auto-negotiate speed/duplex, flow control enabled).
• If a port is part of an aggregated link, it cannot be configured as the
target port for a port mirror. However, a port in an aggregated link can
serve as the source port for a port mirror.
• When connecting to another switch, connect anchor port to anchor port,
and member port to member port.
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