Link Aggregation; Chapter 17 Link Aggregation; Overview; What You Can Do - ZyXEL Communications GS2210 Series User Manual

17.1 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.

17.1.1 What You Can Do

• Use the Link Aggregation Status screen
configured 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
static link aggregation.
• Use the Link Aggregation Control Protocol screen
Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP).

17.1.2 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 17.5.1 on page 141
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
GS2210 Series User's Guide
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Link Aggregation

(Section 17.2 on page
(Section 17.3 on page
(Section 17.4 on page
for a static port trunking example.
1 7
136) to view ports you have
137) to configure to enable
139) to enable Link
135