HP P4000 9.0 HP StorageWorks P4000 SAN Solution User Guide - Page 88

Best practices, IP address for NIC bonds, NIC bonding and speed, duplex, frame size

Page 88 highlights

Best practices • Adaptive Load Balancing is the recommended bonding method, as it combines the benefits of the increased transmission rates of 802.3ad with the network redundancy of Active-Passive. Adaptive Load Balancing does not require additional switch configurations. • Verify and, if necessary, change the Speed, Duplex, Frame Size, and Flow Control settings for both interfaces that you plan to bond. • Link Aggregation Dynamic Mode does not protect against switch failure, because both NICs must be plugged into the same switch. Link Aggregation Dynamic Mode provides bandwidth gains, because data is transferred over both NICs simultaneously. For Link Aggregation Dynamic Mode, both NICs must be plugged into the same switch, and that switch must be LACP-capable, and both support and be configured for 802.3ad aggregation. • For Active-Passive, plug the two NICs on the storage system into separate switches. While Link Aggregation Dynamic Mode will only survive a port failure, Active-Passive will survive a switch failure. IP address for NIC bonds Allocate a static IP address for the logical bond interface (bond0). You cannot use DHCP for the bond IP. NIC bonding and speed, duplex, frame size, and flow control settings These settings are controlled on the TCP Status tab of the TCP/IP Network configuration category. If you change these settings, you must ensure that both sides of the NIC cable are configured in the same manner. For example, if the storage system is set for Auto/Auto, the switch must be set the same. See "TCP status tab" on page 80 for more information. Table 19 Comparison of Active-Passive, link aggregation dynamic mode, and Adaptive Load Balancing bonding Feature Active-Passive Link aggregation dynamic mode Adaptive load balancing Bandwidth Use of 1 NIC at a time provides normal bandwidth. Simultaneous use of both Simultaneous use of both NICs increases bandwidth. NICs increases bandwidth. Protection during port failure Yes Yes Yes Protection during switch failure Yes. NICs can be plugged into different switches. No. Both NICs are plugged Yes. NICs can be plugged into the same switch. into different switches. Requires support for 802.3ad link aggrega- No Yes No tion? How Active-Passive works Bonding NICs for Active-Passive allows you to specify a preferred interface that will be used for data transfer. This is the active interface. The other interface acts as a backup, and its status is "Passive (Ready)." 88 Managing the network

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Best practices
Adaptive Load Balancing is the recommended bonding method, as it combines the benefits of the
increased transmission rates of 802.3ad with the network redundancy of Active-Passive. Adaptive
Load Balancing does not require additional switch configurations.
Verify and, if necessary, change the Speed, Duplex, Frame Size, and Flow Control settings for
both interfaces that you plan to bond.
Link Aggregation Dynamic Mode does not protect against switch failure, because both NICs must
be plugged into the same switch. Link Aggregation Dynamic Mode provides bandwidth gains,
because data is transferred over both NICs simultaneously. For Link Aggregation Dynamic Mode,
both NICs must be plugged into the same switch, and that switch must be LACP-capable, and both
support and be configured for 802.3ad aggregation.
For Active-Passive, plug the two NICs on the storage system into separate switches. While Link
Aggregation Dynamic Mode will only survive a port failure, Active-Passive will survive a switch
failure.
IP address for NIC bonds
Allocate a static IP address for the logical bond interface (bond0). You cannot use DHCP for the bond
IP.
NIC bonding and speed, duplex, frame size, and flow control settings
These settings are controlled on the TCP Status tab of the TCP/IP Network configuration category. If
you change these settings, you must ensure that
both
sides of the NIC cable are configured in the
same manner. For example, if the storage system is set for Auto/Auto, the switch must be set the same.
See
TCP status tab
on page 80 for more information.
Table 19 Comparison of Active-Passive, link aggregation dynamic mode, and Adaptive Load Balancing
bonding
Adaptive load balancing
Link aggregation dynam-
ic mode
Active-Passive
Feature
Simultaneous use of both
NICs increases bandwidth.
Simultaneous use of both
NICs increases bandwidth.
Use of 1 NIC at a time
provides normal band-
width.
Bandwidth
Yes
Yes
Yes
Protection during port
failure
Yes. NICs can be plugged
into different switches.
No. Both NICs are plugged
into the same switch.
Yes. NICs can be
plugged into different
switches.
Protection during switch
failure
No
Yes
No
Requires support for
802.3ad link aggrega-
tion?
How Active-Passive works
Bonding NICs for Active-Passive allows you to specify a preferred interface that will be used for data
transfer. This is the active interface. The other interface acts as a backup, and its status is
Passive
(Ready).
Managing the network
88