Adding an aggregate interface

Configure an aggregate interface to link multiple network interfaces into a single aggregate interface. As a result, the Ethernet interfaces act as a single logical unit.

Before you begin

You must be assigned the WebSphere® DataPower® XC10 Appliance administration permission to add an aggregate interface.

About this task

You can link multiple network interfaces into a single aggregate interface. An aggregate interface is made up of one or more Ethernet interfaces to act as a single logical unit so that you can distribute traffic over your network.

Link aggregation between switches provides increased connectivity, redundancy, and expanded bandwidth.

Increased bandwidth: Multiple Ethernet Interfaces are combined into one logical link, as an aggregate interface, which increases the bandwidth that is available to the appliance.
Remember: With the appliance, you can enable either 1 Gbps ports or 10 Gbps ports. Therefore, if you enable 10 Gbps Ethernet ports, then you can also aggregate 10 Gbps ports.
Automatic failover: Traffic on a failed Ethernet port in an aggregate is transferred to a working Ethernet port. When you use a single switch, this setting can protect against port failures. By using redundant switches, you can protect against network switch failures.
Load balancing: You can select load balancing policies to distribute both inbound and outbound traffic.
Support for redundancy: Two systems can be connected by multiple links in various aggregation configurations.
Improved administration: As an administrator, you can manage multiple Ethernet Interfaces as a single aggregate interface unit.

You can use the command-line interface or the web console to create an aggregate interface. The command-line interface is the preferred approach. After you complete an operation, restart your appliance.

Procedure

Use the command-line interface to add an aggregate interface. Use the following example to create the aggregate interface:

Console> create aggregate-interface myAgg
Console aggregate-interface:myAgg> member eth3 eth4
Console aggregate-interface:myAgg> ip
CWZBR02205I: Entering "ip" mode
Console aggregate-interface:myAgg ip> address 10.5.5.5/24
Console aggregate-interface:myAgg ip> exit
Console aggregate-interface:myAgg> primary-member eth3
Console aggregate-interface:myAgg> aggregation-policy balance-tlb
Console aggregate-interface:myAgg> show
aggregate-interface myAgg:
name "myAgg"
AdminState "Enabled"
use-arp "true"
mtu "1500"
ip
  use-dhcp "false"
  address "10.5.5.5/24"
  use-slaac "false"
  dad-transmits "1"
  dad-retransmit-timer "1000"
end ip
aggregation-policy "balance-tlb"
lacp-selection-logic "stable"
transmit-hash-policy "layer2"
member "eth3" "eth4"
primary-member "eth3"

Console aggregate-interface:myAgg> exit

Use the web console to add an aggregate interface.
1. In the user interface, click Appliance > Settings
2. Expand Aggregate Interfaces.
3. Click Add a new aggreggate interface.
4. Complete the form to describe the aggregate interface you want to add.
  Name
  
  Specifies the name of the interface.
  
  IP address/mask
  
  Specifies the IP address that you want assigned to the aggregate interface. Enter the IP address and the subnet mask in the following format <ip_address>/<subnet_mask>.
  Tip: IPv4 and IPv6 addresses are both assigned with this property. Do not assign duplicate addresses.
  
  Aggregation policy
  
  active-backup
  
  Specifies the active-backup policy for high availability. With this policy, only one Ethernet interface, as a member of an aggregate interface, is enabled at a time. If that Ethernet interface fails, another member resumes processing.
  
  LACP
  
  Specifies the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) policy for both high availability and bandwidth. You can use the LACP policy only when its mode is not set to OFF. By default, the selection logic is Stable, and the transmit hash mode is layer2.
  
  balance-tlb
  
  Specifies the balance-tlb policy for load balancing and high availability. This policy distributes outbound traffic according to the current load of each member. Inbound traffic flows to the Ethernet interface that is selected as the primary member. If the receiving Ethernet interface fails, another member resumes processing.
  
  Members
  
  Specifies the Ethernet interface that you want to add to the aggregate interface. By default, the first Ethernet interface added to the list is designated as the primary member.
  Restriction: An Ethernet interface cannot be a member of more than one aggregate interface.
  
  Important: You must ensure that the Ethernet interface is disabled before you can add it to the aggregate interface. To disable the Ethernet interface, you must clear the Enabled check box on the Ethernet interfaces panel. For more information on how to navigate to this panel, see Managing the IBM WebSphere DataPower XC10 Appliance Ethernet interfaces
5. Click OK.
  Attention: An aggregate interface is enabled by default. If you want to continue using your existing aggregate instead of your new aggregate, then you must disable this aggregate interface first. To disable the aggregate interface, expand Aggregate interfaces and locate the new aggregate interface. Clear the Enabled setting. If the aggregate interface is left as enabled, the next time you restart WebSphere DataPower XC10 Appliance, the new aggregate interface is used to bind the data grids, which might lead to unexpected results.

What to do next

Any changes that you make to the aggregate interfaces require a restart before the change is used by the WebSphere DataPower XC10 Appliance. For more information, see Shutting down or restarting the appliance.