Chapter 1

Link Aggregation and LACP basics

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Link Aggregation according to IEEE 802.1AX-2008 (formerly IEEE 802.3ad) is a standard for bundling multiple network connections in parallel. The advantages of link aggregation compared to a conventional connection via a single cable are higher availability and higher possible transmission speed (depending on the respective Load Distribution Algorithms). In this article you will find basic information on link aggregation and LACP, a concrete example in the article Link Aggregation for the Modular Server.

Contents

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• 1 Prerequisites
• 2 Properties
  • 2.1 Distribution of the Data Transmission
• 3 Link Aggregation
  • 3.1 Static Link Aggregation
  • 3.2 Dynamic Link Aggregation – Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
• 4 Table of References
• 5 Additional Information

Prerequisites

The individual links of a link aggregation group must always be parallel point-to-point connections.

To be able to use link aggregation, the following prerequisites must be fulfilled.

All of the aggregated links must:

• be in full duplex mode
• use the same data transmission rates (at least 1 Gbit/s)
• use parallel point-to-point connections