Load Balancing - HP 345646-001 - StorageWorks NAS 2000s External Storage Server Administration Manual

Load Balancing

The Load Balancing teaming option provides four load balancing control options:
Figure 14: NIC Properties, Teaming Controls tab, Load Balancing option
Detailed information about these four load balancing teaming options can be found in the HP
Network Teaming Help.
Note:
The primary NIC in the team receives all incoming packets. The choice is available to load balance
with the source MAC address (the address transmitted from the workstation) or the source IP address.
Using the last four bits of either source address, the teaming driver algorithm assigns this source
address to the port of one of the NICs in the team. This port is then used to transmit all packets
destined for that source address. If there are four NICs in the team, the packets are received by the
primary NIC on the team. The packets are retransmitted through one of the four ports.
NAS 2000s Administration Guide
Transmit Load Balancing—All transmit IP frames are load balanced among all team
members based on a Load Balancing algorithm in the teaming device driver. The Current
Primary adapter transmits all other frames, and receives all frames for the team. If a
failover event occurs, one of the non-Primary adapters assumes the role of Current
Primary adapter, and transmit IP packets are load balanced among all remaining team
members. If a failure occurs in any of the non-Primary adapters, the packets are load
balanced among all remaining team members.
Switch-assisted Load Balancing—All transmit packets are load balanced among all team
members based on a Load Balancing algorithm in the teaming device driver. The receive
packets are load balanced among all team members by the switch. If a failure of any team
member occurs, the packets are load balanced among the remaining adapters. There is no
primary adapter in a Switch-assisted Load Balancing team.
Balance with MAC Address—This feature allows load balancing of IP packets among
the teamed NICs using the last four bits of the MAC Address. (See following Note.)
Balance with IP Address—This feature allows load balancing of IP packets among the
teamed NICs using the last four bits of the IP Address. (See following Note.)
The teaming utility can load balance IP packets among the teamed NICs installed in a server.
Basic Administrative Procedures and Setup Completion
37