NIC teaming

[Phil Dai]

Hi there,

We have a DL380 G5 (running Windows 2003) and a CISCO 2960G in our lab. We want to make a NIC teaming which enable 2Gbps bi-direct link between DL380 and CISCO. What should we do on the server side and the switch side? Your prompt reply would be appreciated!

Thanks & Regards,
Phil

[Ronald Postma]

Hi Phil,

Launch the HP network configuration utility.
Both you networkcard should be listed. Choose to team the cards.
Windows will create an extra networkcard. You should configure it like the not teamed was. i.e. if you had static IP, configure it on the new one.

Connect both NIC's to the switch and to my knowlidge the switch will automaticly knows what to do.

Have a nice day,
HTH, Ronald

[Lmm_1]

The only team modes that will give you 2Gb TX/RX will be SLB and LACP, those team modes will require port aggregation configured on the switch.

SLB - Requires an Etherchannel
#Int range gix/x - x
#Channel-group # mode on

802.3ad - Will require an LACP Channel
#int range gix/x - x
#Channel-group # mode active

Having the port aggregation configured and teaming mode on auto will take you to those team mode. If there is no switch configuration done the team mode will go to TLB, 2GB Tx and 1 Gb Rx.

rgds,
Lmm

[Phil Dai]

Thanks for all responses!

lmm, have you ever tried to get a xGbps link to a NetApp NAS via NIC teaming?

Thanks & Regards,
Phil

[Lmm_1]

I havent try that. Are you connecting those devices directly?

[Phil Dai]

No. Actually we have 2 DL380s which will access a NetApp NAS via a CISCO 2960G. On the NAS side, we have a link aggregation of 4x1Gbps using EtherChannel(it works!); on the server side, we need each server have more than 100MB/s throughput to NetApp NAS (we didn't make it happen!). I doubt there must be something wrong with my CISCO setting. So, as you mentioned, SLB + etherchannel will works, right? -- Sorry for that question because I am neither a network nor a windows guy. :-)

Thanks & Regards,
Phil

[Lmm_1]

Yeah, that should work. SLB on the team and etherchannel on Cisco Side.

[Igor Karasik]

>>On the NAS side, we have a link aggregation of 4x1Gbps using

Make sure you have Multi-mode or LACP VIFs defined on NetApp side

[Phil Dai]

Thanks and have a happy weekend!

Regards,
Phil