Is apa configured correctly to use both nics

[Jackie Andrason_3]

Hi, I have an hp7420 with 2 1 GB ethernet nics that are attached to a cisco 6000/6500 switch. I have installed the APA software and configured them "MANUAL" - here is the hp_apaconf settings:

# The HP_APA_INIT_ARGS are reserved by HP. They are NOT user changable.
HP_APA_START_LA_PPA=900
HP_APA_DEFAULT_PORT_MODE=MANUAL
HP_APA_USE_SYSLOG=1

HP_APA_INIT_ARGS="HP_APA_LOAD_BALANCE_MODE HP_APA_GROUP_CAPABILITY HP_APA_HOT_ST
ANDBY HP_APA_MANUAL_LA HP_APA_INIT HP_APA_KEY"

HP_APA_INTERFACE_NAME[0]=lan901
HP_APA_LOAD_BALANCE_MODE[0]=LB_MAC
HP_APA_MANUAL_LA[0]=3,4

and the hp_apaportconf has both of their HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[0]=MANUAL.

The 2 ports that it is attached to on the cisco switch are etherchanneled together.

The link is up and working; however it looks like most of the traffic is going in/out of lan4 and very little out of lan3 (from using glance with l option):
4 lan3 Lan 0.0/ 0.1 0.0/ 0.0 0.0/ 0.0 0.0/ 0.0
5 lan4 Lan 26364/ 25394 17065.8/15629.6 35311/ 34733 7357.2/5398.6
7 lan901 Lan 26364/ 25394 17065.8/15629.6 35311/ 34733 7357.2/5398.6

Is this "normal" or is there a way to make it load balance between the 2 ports?

[IT_2007]

looks good as long as you edit following files in /etc/rc.config.d

netconf
hp_apaconf
hp_apaportconf
hpigelanconf

[Jackie Andrason_3]

Let me see if I can clarify a little bit. I want to know if there is a way to make it more evenly share the 2 nics that are configured in the aggregate. Currently it looks like pretty much all the traffic goes through lan4. Or is it normal for this if most of the traffic is between this server and another server. Our network guy who configured the etherchannel on the switch said he thinks since it is the same addresses, it uses the same port. I just wanted to see if there was a way to make it use the whole 2 GB throughput, as it doesn't seem to be at this point.

[IT_2007]

I got your point now. You want to achieve higher throughput using both nics. I think you need to modify configuration. Since you are using MANUAL mode, you are not able to get higher throughput. Please check other options so that you can achieve it.

[IT_2007]

Also see the link for configuration

http://docs.hp.com/en/J4240-90035/ch02s04.html

This doc gives you in detail about settings.

[IT_2007]

Did you define lan ports in hp_apaportconf?

your first doesn't show at all. Please check.

HP_APAPORT_INTERFACE_NAME[0]=lan3
HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[0]=MANUAL
HP_APAPORT_INTERFACE_NAME[1]=lan4
HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[1]=MANUAL

[Jackie Andrason_3]

Yes I do have those set in there as well.

I don't know what other options might work, which I guess is why I was asking in the forum.

Thanks.

[IT_2007]

we do HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[0]=LAN_MONITOR mode and already tested.

Talk to your network admin about switch settings and use above mode.

/etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaportconf

HP_APAPORT_INTERFACE_NAME[0]=lan3
HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[0]=LAN_MONITOR

HP_APAPORT_INTERFACE_NAME[1]=lan4
HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[1]=LAN_MONITOR

[Jackie Andrason_3]

Are there any APA experts out there that can answer the question, or should I try another forum?

Thanks!

[Xianjie Zhang]

The load balance actually depends one the traffic pattern. How many clients/other systems are talking to this aggregation?
You may want to try a different load balance algorithm by changing "HP_APA_LOAD_BALANCE_MODE[0]=LB_MAC" to
"HP_APA_LOAD_BALANCE_MODE[0]=LB_IP" or
"HP_APA_LOAD_BALANCE_MODE[0]=LB_PORT".

Note: inbound load balance are controlled by the switch. Check your switch configuration with regard to load balance algorithm. Newer cisco switches also support simlar algorithms like src/dst IP addresses based, src/dst TCP/UDP port based, etc.

From the glance output, LB_PORT may be a better choice than LB_MAC.

Please see the following link for more information: http://docs.hp.com/en/J4240-90031/apas04.html?btnNext=next%A0%BB