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SmartSwitch Router User Reference Manual 69
Chapter 4
SmartTRUNK
Configuration
Guide
Overview
This chapter explains how to configure and monitor SmartTRUNKs on the SSR. A
SmartTRUNK is Cabletron Systems’ technology for load balancing and load sharing. For a
description of the SmartTRUNK commands, see the “smarttrunk commands” section of
the SSR Command Line Interface Manual.
On the SSR, a SmartTRUNK is a group of two or more ports that have been logically
combined into a single port. Multiple physical connections between devices are
aggregated into a single logical, high-speed path that acts as a single link. Traffic is
balanced across all interfaces in the combined link, increasing overall available system
bandwidth.
SmartTRUNKs allow administrators the ability to increase bandwidth at congestion
points in the network, thus eliminating potential traffic bottlenecks. SmartTRUNKs also
provide improved data link resiliency. If one port in a SmartTRUNK should fail, its load is
distributed evenly among the remaining ports and the entire SmartTRUNK link remains
operational.
SmartTRUNK is Cabletron’s standard for building high-performance links between
Cabletron’s switching platforms. SmartTRUNKs can interoperate with switches, routers,
and servers from other vendors as well as Cabletron platforms.
SmartTrunks are compatible with all SSR features, including VLANs, STP, VRRP, etc.
SmartTRUNK operation is supported over different media types and a variety of
technologies including 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet.