Configuring Static Link Aggregation Static Link Aggregation Overview
OmniSwitch AOS Release 7 Network Configuration Guide June 2013 page 7-5
Static Link Aggregation Overview
Link aggregation allows you to combine 2, 4, or 8 physical connections into large virtual connections
known as link aggregation groups.
You can create Virtual LANs (VLANs), 802.1Q framing, configure Quality of Service (QoS) conditions,
and other networking features on link aggregation groups because the OmnniSwitch AOS software treats
these virtual links just like physical links. (See “Relationship to Other Features” on page 7-6 for more
information on how link aggregation interacts with other software features.)
Load balancing for Layer 2 non-IP packets is on a MAC address basis. However when IP packets are
transmitted, the balancing algorithm uses the IP address. Ports must be of the same speed within the same
link aggregate group.
Alcatel-Lucent’s link aggregation software allows you to configure the following two different types of
link aggregation groups:
• Static link aggregate groups
• Dynamic link aggregate groups
This chapter describes static link aggregation. For information on dynamic link aggregation, please refer
to Chapter 8, “Configuring Dynamic Link Aggregation.”
Static Link Aggregation Operation
Static link aggregate groups are virtual links between two nodes consisting of 2, 4, or 8 fixed physical
links.
Static aggregate groups can be created between each of the following OmniSwitch products:
• two OmniSwitch 10000 switches.
• an OmniSwitch 10000 switch and an early-generation Alcatel-Lucent switch.
Note. Static aggregate groups cannot be created between an OmniSwitch and some switches from other
vendors.
The figure below shows a static aggregate group that has been configured between Switch A and Switch
B. The static aggregate group links four ports on a single OS9-GNI-C24 on Switch A to two ports on one
OS9-GNI-C24 and two ports on another OS9-GNI-C24 on Switch B. The network administrator has
created a separate VLAN for this group so users can use this high speed link.
Example of a Static Link Aggregate Group Network
See “Configuring Static Link Aggregation Groups” on page 7-6 for information on using Command Line
Interface (CLI) commands to configure static aggregate groups and see “Displaying Static Link Aggrega-
Switch A
Switch B
Switch software treats the
static aggregate groups as
one large virtual link.
Static Group