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PowerConnect B-Series FCX Configuration Guide 399
53-1002266-01
Trunk group overview
12
Load sharing for unknown unicast, multicast, and broadcast traffic
Dell PowerConnect devices load balance unknown unicast, multicast, and broadcast traffic based
on the source port and VLAN ID and not on any source or destination information in the packet.
For example, when the switch receives unknown unicast, multicast, and broadcast packets, and
the packets are from the same source port, the packets are forwarded to the same port of the
trunk group. Conversely, when the switch receives unknown unicast, multicast, and broadcast
packets, and the packets are from different source ports, the packets are load-balanced across all
the ports of the trunk group.
Note that this does not apply to known unicast traffic, which is always load balanced across all the
ports of a trunk group based on the traffic's Layer 2 and Layer 3 source and destination
parameters.
How trunk load sharing works
The load balancing method for bridged traffic varies depending on the traffic type. Load balancing
for routed traffic is always based on the source and destination IP addresses and protocol field (not
applicable for FastIron Stackable devices).
NOTE
Table 72 do not include unknown unicast, multicast, and broadcast traffic. Refer to “Load sharing
for unknown unicast, multicast, and broadcast traffic”.
Table 72 describes how the FastIron Stackable devices load balance traffic.
Adding Layer 2 information to trunk hash output
FastIron Stackable devices support the option to include Layer 2 information in the trunk hash
calculation for IP packets. Use the following CLI command.
PowerConnect(config)# trunk hash-options include-layer2
This command adds Layer 2 information (text in bold) to the following load-balancing parameters.
1. Non-IP: Source MAC, Destination MAC
2. IPv4 TCP/UDP: Source IP, Destination IP, Source TCP/UDP Port, Destination TCP/UDP Port,
Source MAC, Destination MAC
3. IPv4 Non-TCP/UDP: Source IP, Destination IP, Source MAC, Destination MAC
TABLE 72 Trunk group load sharing on FastIron Stackable devices
Traffic type Load balancing method
L2 Bridged Non-IP Source MAC, Destination MAC
L2 Bridged IPv4 TCP/UDP Source IP, Destination IP, Source TCP/UDP Port,
Destination TCP/UDP Port
L2 Bridged IPv4 Non-TCP/UDP Source IP, Destination IP
L2 Bridged IPv6 TCP/UDP Source IP, Destination IP, Flow Label, Source TCP/UDP
Port, Destination TCP/UDP Port
L2 Bridged IPv6 Non-TCP/UDP Source IP, Destination IP, Flow Label