NLB Multicast on Catalyst 2960

[marcengelstein]

I need to know if the Catalyst 2960 supports Microsoft NLB in multicast, and if it is needed to be in IGMP mode or not

I have 2 switches and the NLB are in VMWare Vcenter

The document

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps708/products_configuration_example09186a0080a07203.shtml

does not include the 2960 switch

Is there a minimum IOS version to support it?

[Richard Michael]

Hello Marc,

NLB need static mac. Since 2960 is Layer2, it needs a static multicast mac. For Layer3, it might need static ARP as well

Yes 2960 supports the NLB in multicast mode.  Try with 12.2(35)SE5 version and above it should work.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960/software/release/12.2_53_se/command/reference/cli1.html#wp11902855

and yes, IGMP snooping is also needed in the switch.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283028/en-us

Thanks,

Ricky Micky

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[marcengelstein]

Hello Ricky

I have version 12.2(55) SE2.

I tired to add both static arp and static multicast on the 2960S (2 swithes stacked)

But it does not work.

Do I need to do some configuration on the router side (Cisco 3670)?

Thanks

Marc

[Richard Michael]

Hello Marc,

Are the users are coming from Router if yes point a static arp/mac entries in the router towards the interface it is connected to 2960. It should work once it is configured. Apart from the static/ARP MAC there isnt much thing to do on switch side.

Thanks,

Ricky Micky

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[marcengelstein]

Hello Ricky

Thanks for the update

I am now at a point where everything "almost" works

However, some servers are able to ping the cluster some don't

All servers connected to the same switch (2960S) in a clustered ESXi

All servers can ping hosts in the same vlan as NLB

2 servers on the same ESXi - One can ping nlb, the other not - weird.

ESXi have 4 lan adapters in teaming.

Switch connected to router C3750

Router IOS c3750-IPBASE-M) 12.2(35)SE5

Switch IOS C2960S-UNIVERSALK9-M version 12.2(55)SE2

I setup a second NLB and result is exactly the same. Servers that can ping nlb1 can also ping nlb2 and servers that cannot ping nlb1 cannot ping nlb2

Not too sure what to look for at that point

Also, question I have is if I should use Multicast or Multicast IGMP