Dell Broadcom NetXtreme Family of Adapters User Manual page 97

and then Configurations.
Configuring Teaming
The teaming function allows you to group any available network adapters together to function as a team. Teaming is a method of creating a virtual NIC (a
group of multiple adapters that functions as a single adapter). The benefit of this approach is that it enables load balancing and failover. Teaming is done
through the Broadcom Advanced Server Program (BASP) software. For a comprehensive description of the technology and implementation considerations
of the teaming software, refer to the "Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet Teaming Services" section of your Broadcom network adapter user guide.
Teaming can be accomplished by either of the following methods:
Using the Broadcom Teaming Wizard
Using Expert Mode
NOTES:
For further information regarding teaming protocols, see "Teaming" in your Broadcom network adapter user guide.
If you do not enable LiveLink™ when configuring teams, disabling Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) at the switch is recommended. This minimizes
the downtime due to spanning tree loop determination when failing over. LiveLink mitigates such issues.
BASP is available only if a system has one or more Broadcom network adapters installed.
The TCP Offload Engine (TOE), Large Send Offload (LSO), and Checksum Offload properties are enabled for a team only when all of the
members support and are configured for the feature.
If an adapter is included as a member of a team and you change any advanced property, then you must rebuild the team to ensure that the
team's advanced properties are properly set.
If an adapter with a TOE key is included as a member of a team and you remove the TOE key, then you must rebuild the team to ensure that
the team does not appear as a TOE-enabled team.
You must have administrator privileges to create or modify a team.
The load balance algorithm in a team environment in which members are connected at different speeds favors members connected with a
Gigabit Ethernet link over members connected at lower speed links (100 Mbps or 10 Mbps) until a threshold is met. This is normal behavior.
In a GEC or 802.3ad type team, disabling the device driver(s) of a team member that has IPMI enabled may prevent a successful failover
since IPMI maintains link with the attached switch.
Do not assign a Locally Administered Address on any physical adapter that is a member of a team.