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6–Configuring NIC Functionality in the Converged Network Adapter
Configuring the NIC in a Windows Environment
6-16 FE0254601-00 A
A protocol address, such as an IP address, is usually assigned to the physical
adapter. However, when the QLogic NIC teaming driver and the
QConvergeConsole CLI are used to create a team, the protocol address is
assigned to the team adapter, and not to the physical adapters that make up the
team. For Microsoft Windows environments, the command ipconfig /all
displays the IP and MAC addresses of the logical/virtual adapter and not of the
individual physical adapters
There are two types of NIC teaming: switch independent and switch dependent.
Switch Independent Teaming
Switch independent teaming is implemented entirely at the adapter level. The
Ethernet switch that is connected to the adapter is unaware of the team, and no
switch involvement is required for team operation. QLogic 8100 Series Adapters
support switch-independent teams only by using a specialized QLogic NIC
teaming driver and the QConvergeConsole CLI for Microsoft Windows
environments.
Switch independent teaming functions in one of the following modes:
Failover mode allows only one active team member at any time. When the
active team member is not available, due to a link down or a hardware fault,
the automatic failover mechanism selects another healthy team member to
be the active member, and traffic continues uninterrupted.
Load balanced mode has all the capabilities of failover mode, except all
team members remain active and are able to distribute the transmit side of
TCP/IP traffic between them.
Switch Dependent Teaming
Switch dependent teaming implements the adapter teaming function with the
teaming capabilities of the switch. There are two switch dependent teaming
modes:
Static teaming (or generic trunking) mode is also known as IEEE 802.3ad
Link Aggregation static mode and requires configuration at both ends of the
link (server adapter port and switch). In this teaming mode, the adapter NIC
teaming driver controls load balancing and failover for outgoing traffic only,
while incoming traffic is controlled by the switch.
Dynamic teaming mode using aggregation control protocol (LACP) is similar
to static teaming, except IEEE 802.3ad LACP is used between the adapter
port and the switch to negotiate with the adapter ports that make up the
team. In this mode, LACP controls the addition and removal of physical links
for the link aggregation, so that no frames are lost or duplicated in the
process.