Legacy Open Mesh: Switches: Link Aggregation

Topic

This article describes Link Aggregation and how to implement it on Open Mesh Switches.

Environment

• Open Mesh Switches

Description

Link Aggregation is the process of combining multiple physical links (ports, in the case of switches) to form one logical link, for purposes of increasing total available bandwidth, performance, and reliability. Link aggregation is most commonly used to link bandwidth-intensive devices to the backbone of a network or for connecting core switches with distribution switches, to extend the reach of a network.

Procedure

Navigation

1. Navigate to Manage ? Switches, then select the desired switch.

2. Click Port Settings, as seen in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Port Settings

Grouping Ports

To create a Link Aggregate Group (LAG), follow these steps:

1. Select two or more ports, as seen in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Selecting Ports

2. Click Aggregate, as seen in Figure 3.

Figure 3: The Aggregate button

3. You will see a prompt asking you to confirm the aggregation, as shown in Figure 4. Click OK.

Figure 4: Question prompt

The ports will then merge and display the ports within the LAG and are now in a Group, as seen in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Ports 1 and 2 group

Splitting Ports

You can split one or more ports from an existing Link Aggregated Group. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Select a LAG, as seen in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Selecting a LAG containing ports 1 and 2

2. Click Split, as seen in Figure 7.

Figure 7: The Split button

3. The Split Grouped Ports window will display, as seen in Figure 8. Select the ports you wish to remove from the group, then click OK.

Figure 8: Split Grouped Parts window

Important Notes

• PoE will automatically disable for all ports within the LAG.
• The LAG will use the port settings of the lowest number port.
• Rate limiting is unsupported on aggregated ports.
• Link Aggregation requires devices that support LACP.