Application Considerations - Dell Broadcom NetXtreme Family of Adapters User Manual

SLB Teams
SLB teams are the only teaming type not dependant on switch configuration. The server intermediate driver handles the load
balancing and fault tolerance mechanisms with no assistance from the switch. These elements of SLB make it the only team
type that maintains failover and fallback characteristics when team ports are connected directly to a hub.
SLB Team Connected to a Single Hub
SLB teams configured as shown in Figure97 maintain their fault tolerance properties. Either server connection could
potentially fail, and network functionality is maintained. Clients could be connected directly to the hub, and fault tolerance
would still be maintained; server performance, however, would be degraded.
Figure 6. Team Connected to a Single Hub
Generic and Dynamic Trunking (FEC/GEC/IEEE 802.3ad)
FEC/GEC and IEEE 802.3ad teams cannot be connected to any hub configuration. These team types must be connected to a
switch that has also been configured for this team type.
Teaming with Microsoft NLB/WLBS
The SLB mode of teaming does not work in Microsoft's Network Load Balancing (NLB) unicast mode, only in multicast mode.
Due to the mechanism used by the NLB service, the recommended teaming configuration in this environment is Failover (SLB
with a standby NIC) as load balancing is managed by NLB.

Application Considerations

Teaming and Clustering