Solved: Server Teaming - 4NIC

Amin Shaikh · ‎10-14-2009

Server with 4NIC needs to connect to L3switch as a single pipe for redundancy and high throughput

Server has a teaming software to combine all these interfaces as one.

What config is required on Switch.

Currently the server is connected with one NIC to switch

Server IP : 192.168.1.10/24

Switch : giga 0/21

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

speed 1000

Giuseppe Larosa · ‎10-15-2009

Hello Amin,

to build a L2 etherchannel that is not a L2 trunk

int giga0/5

switchport

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

channe-group 5 mode active

speed 1000

duplex full

int giga0/6

switchport

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

channe-group 5 mode active

speed 1000

duplex full

int giga0/10

switchport

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

channe-group 5 mode active

speed 1000

duplex full

int giga0/11

switchport

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

channe-group 5 mode active

speed 1000

duplex full

int po5

no shut

! this can be needed on some switch

! platforms for example C6500

to avoid problems with starting up the member links one possible solution is to start with all member links shut

and then to use interface range to make an unshut in sync.

interface range gibabitethernet 0/5 - 6, 0/10 - 11

no shut

! pay attentions to spaces that are required

! or interface range is not accepted

then depending on platform you may need to unshut the bundle interface po5 in this example.

Do this when server NICs are configured to use LACP

Hope to help

Giuseppe

View solution in original post

rc.castillo · ‎10-14-2009

Hi,

You can use etherchanneling on the switch ports.

i.e.

interface port-channel1

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

spanning-tree portfast

interface range g0/21-24

channel group 1 mode active

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

spanning-tree portfast

Giuseppe Larosa · ‎10-14-2009

Hello Amin,

if all 4 NICs are active that is it is an active/active teaming you can only use an etherchannel bundle.

I recommend to use LACP IEEE 802.1ad on the switch side you prepare all the 4 NICs like the one already connected

int gi x/y

switchport

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

speed 1000

duplex full

to setup an LACP bundle add to each interface:

channel-group x mode active

x is a number of an unused bundle.

for example x= 5

you may need also

int po5

no shut

you can check current etherchannels with

show etherchannel summmary

the server NICs have to be configured for LACP to send LACP messages on each port.

if the switch port fails to hear LACP message for some time (90 seconds) the port is removed from bundle.

This provides control of what is happening and has to be preferred to unconditionally bundling (channel-group y mode on)

refer to server documentation on how to setup an LACP bundle.

we are using this for all new servers.

Hope to help

Giuseppe

Amin Shaikh · ‎10-15-2009

Hi Giuseppe,

I didnt understand the Etherchannel configuration.

Assume Server 4NIC interface on Switch are connected to switch ports

giga0/5

giga0/6

giga0/10

giga0/11

what config needed on these interfaces.

Giuseppe Larosa · ‎10-15-2009

Hello Amin,

to build a L2 etherchannel that is not a L2 trunk

int giga0/5

switchport

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

channe-group 5 mode active

speed 1000

duplex full

int giga0/6

switchport

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

channe-group 5 mode active

speed 1000

duplex full

int giga0/10

switchport

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

channe-group 5 mode active

speed 1000

duplex full

int giga0/11

switchport

switchport mode access

switchport access vlan 9

channe-group 5 mode active

speed 1000

duplex full

int po5

no shut

! this can be needed on some switch

! platforms for example C6500

to avoid problems with starting up the member links one possible solution is to start with all member links shut

and then to use interface range to make an unshut in sync.

interface range gibabitethernet 0/5 - 6, 0/10 - 11

no shut

! pay attentions to spaces that are required

! or interface range is not accepted

then depending on platform you may need to unshut the bundle interface po5 in this example.

Do this when server NICs are configured to use LACP

Hope to help

Giuseppe