Teaming

Teaming is a set of advanced network services which are available when two or more adapters are configured to operate as a team. 

Teaming modes include:

NOTE: For optimal performance, you must disable the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) when using AFT, ALB, or FEC/GEC/802.3ad static mode teaming.

Multi-Vendor Teaming (MVT) - adds the capability to include adapters from selected other vendors in a team. If you are using a Windows-based server, the adapters appearing in Intel® PROSet are candidates for a team. 

For an overview of Teaming Options, see "Solving Server Bottlenecks with Intel Server Adapters." This document covers teaming and load balancing options. You can view this document with the Adobe Acrobat* Viewer.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to use the latest available drivers on all adapters.
CAUTION: When you use Intel PROSet II to create a team, a virtual adapter instance is created. In Windows 2000, this is displayed in both the Device Manager and Network and Dial-up Connections. Each virtual adapter instance is listed as "Intel® Advanced Network Services Virtual Adapter." Do not attempt to modify (except to change protocol configuration) or remove these virtual adapter instances using Device Manager or Network and Dial-up Connections. Removing or modifying virtual adapters might result in system anomalies, including blue screens.
NOTE: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 does not support Plug and Play (PnP). Any change in network configuration requires a system reboot to take effect. Hot Add/Remove of an adapter to/from a team or VLAN is only available in Windows 2000 and XP.

Supported Operating Systems

The following links provide information on setting up teaming with various operating systems:

Adapters Supported

Teaming options are supported on Intel PRO/100 and PRO/1000 server adapters, and on Intel desktop adapters if there is at least one server adapter installed. Selected adapters from other manufacturers are also supported. (If you are running a Windows-based system, check the Intel PROSet II control panel utility to see which adapters are compatible.) 

Compatibility Notes

In Intel test labs, it was found that:

Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT)

Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT) provides the safety of an additional backup link between the server and switch. In the case of switch port, cable, or adapter failure, you can maintain network connectivity.

Adapter Fault Tolerance is implemented with a primary adapter and one or more backup, or secondary adapters. During normal operation, the backup adapters are in standby. If the link to the primary adapter fails, the link to the secondary adapter automatically takes over.

To use Adapter Fault Tolerance, you must have at least one PRO/100 or one PRO/1000 server adapter in your team, and all adapters linked to the same switch or hub.

NOTE: You can mix gigabit and 10/100 adapters in an AFT team. 

Switch Fault Tolerance (SFT)

Switch Fault Tolerance (SFT) teaming enables you to connect two teamed adapters to two switches. Each adapter connects to a separate switch.

Switch Fault Tolerance can detect failures when they occur:

In SFT teams, one adapter is the primary adapter and one adapter is the secondary adapter. During normal operation, the secondary adapter is in standby mode. In standby, the adapter is inactive and waiting for failover to occur. It does not transmit or receive other network traffic. If the primary adapter loses connectivity, the secondary adapter automatically takes over.

In SFT mode, the two adapters creating the team can operate at different speeds.

NOTE: SFT is currently only available on computers running Windows NT4, XP, and 2000.

Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB)

Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB) uses software to balance routable traffic among a team of two to eight adapters (must include at least one server adapter) connected to the same switch. On computers running Windows NT4, 2000, and XP, ALB balances routable transmit traffic and, with receive load balancing (RLB) enabled, IP receive traffic. The software analyzes the send and transmit loading on each adapter and balances the rate across the adapters based on destination address. Adapter teams configured for ALB also provide the benefits of AFT.

NOTE: ALB does not load balance non-routed protocols such as NetBEUI and some IPX* traffic.
NOTE: You may create an ALB team with mixed speed adapters. The load is balanced according to the adapter's capabilities and actual speed. 

FEC/Link Aggregation/802.3ad: static mode

Fast EtherChannel (FEC) is a performance technology developed by Cisco to increase throughput between switches. This mode works with:

The transmission speed will never exceed the adapter base speed to any single address (per specification). Teams may be from 2 to 8 adapters but must match the capability of the switch. Adapter teams configured for static Link Aggregation also provide the benefits of fault tolerance and load balancing. No primary need be set in these modes. 

GEC/Link Aggregation/802.3ad: static mode

Gigabit EtherChannel (GEC) is a performance technology developed by Cisco to increase throughput between switches. This mode works with:

The transmission speed will never exceed the adapter base speed to any single address (per specification). Teams may be from 2 to 8 adapters but must match the capability of the switch. Adapter teams configured for static Link Aggregation also provide the benefits of fault tolerance and load balancing. No primary need be set in these modes. 

IEEE 802.3ad: dynamic mode

802.3ad is an adopted IEEE standard. Teams can consist of two to eight adapters and you can have a maximum of two IEEE 802.3ad dynamic teams per server. You must use 802.3ad switches (in dynamic mode, aggregation can go across switches). Adapter teams configured for IEEE 802.3ad also provide the benefits of fault tolerance and load balancing. Under 802.3ad, all protocols can be load balanced.

Dynamic mode supports multiple aggregators and they are formed either by different speeds on the same switch (teams based on speed) or by using multiple switches (provides some redundancy between switches). Only one team will be active at a time. 

NOTE: Once you choose an aggregator, it remains in force until all adapters in that aggregator lose link.
In some switches, copper and fiber adapters cannot belong to the same aggregator in an IEEE 802.3ad configuration. If there are copper and fiber adapters installed in a system, the switch might configure the copper adapters in one aggregator and the fiber-based adapters in another. If you experience this behavior, for best performance you should use either copper or fiber-based adapters in a system.

Before you begin

Multi-Vendor Teaming (MVT)

MVT allows teaming with a combination of Intel and non-Intel adapters. This feature is currently available under Linux* and Windows* (NT 4.0, 2000 and XP). 

If you are running a Windows-based system, check the Intel PROSet II control panel utility to see which adapters are compatible. 

MVT Design Considerations


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