The switch being used must be compatible with:

  • VLAN tagging
    • IEEE 802.1Q
  • Bonding/teaming (802.3ad/Active-Backup)
    • IEEE 802.1AX/IEEE 802.3ad/LACP
Note: It is not possible to bond interfaces on Azure or Amazon Web Services (AWS) LoadMasters.

Switch Configuration

Enabling the Active-Backup mode generally does not require switch intervention and can be configured directly on the LoadMaster. Using the 802.3ad bonding mode will require configuring a link aggregation group on the switch in conjunction with the LoadMaster. Please read your switch documentation to establish the corresponding team/bond. Common terms for link aggregation include "Ethernet trunk", "NIC teaming", "port channel", "port teaming", "port trunking", "link bundling", "EtherChannel", "Multi-Link Trunking (MLT)", "NIC bonding", "Network Fault Tolerance (NFT)" and “LAG”.

When enabling VLAN trunking on the switch port, make sure to configure the port to support the appropriate mode; General; Access or Trunking. Descriptions are as follows, but please check your switch documentation for specifics:

  • General — The port belongs to VLANs, and each VLAN is user-defined as tagged or untagged (full 802.1Q mode)
  • Access — The port belongs to a single untagged VLAN
  • Trunk — The port belongs to VLANs in which all ports are tagged