Link Aggregation; Vlans - Intel ES460MSX - Ethernet 1000Base SX Switch Module User Manual

C H A P T E
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460T Ch2.p65
R 2 Intel Express 460T Standalone Switch Users Guide

Link Aggregation

Link aggregation allows you to combine from 2 to 8 (adjacent) ports so that
they function as a single high-speed link. For example, link aggregation is
useful when making connections between switches or to connect servers to
the switch.
Link aggregation, sometimes known as port trunking, can be 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 Express 460T Switch supports up to four link aggregation groups
(anchor ports 1, 9, 17) for a 24-port switch and up to three link aggregation
groups (anchor ports 1, 9) on a 16-port switch. This includes one link
aggregation group for the two 100FX module ports.
Guidelines
• The switch treats aggregated links as a single port. This includes
Spanning Tree and VLANs.
• 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
immediately adopts the characteristics of the anchor port. When a port
is no longer a member of an aggregated link, the characteristics are
reset to the default settings (autonegotiate 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.
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2 ports aggregated x 100Mbps = 200Mbps link
4 ports aggregated x 100Mbps = 400Mbps link
4/19/00, 4:09 PM