Planning the Configuration

Configuring Groups and VLANs

3Com Advanced Server technology features allow you to configure load balancing groups and virtual LANs (VLANs).

The following 3Com Advanced Server technology features are available for NIC groups in Windows:

•Load balancing

•RSL failover

•Multiple VLANs

The examples in this section illustrate typical actions you might take in the course of maintaining a 3Com Advanced Server configuration in Windows.

Planning the Configuration

Consider these items when planning groups and VLANs:

•Decide whether you want to use bidirectional load balancing or transmit load balancing.

To use bidirectional load balancing, you must assign a dedicated IP address for each load balancing group. This address must be unique (not used elsewhere on the network). For details, see “Specifying a Dedicated IP Address” on page 36.

•Decide which NICs are to be part of each group. Each group must include at least two NICs.

•Decide whether you want to use a foreign (non-3Com) NIC in one of the groups.

Up to two foreign NICs (that is, NICs that are not 3Com server NICs) are allowed in one group per server.

•Decide which NIC is to be the primary NIC in each group. If a foreign NIC is used, it must be designated the primary NIC.

•Disable load balancing if you have set failover for a group of NICs operating at different speeds. 3Com Advanced Server supports failover for a group of NICs operating at different speeds (for example, with one NIC operating at 10 Mbps, another operating at 100 Mbps, and another at 1,000 Mbps). However, Advanced Server supports load balancing only for a group of NICs operating at the same speed (with all NICs operating at 10 Mbps, or all operating at 100 Mbps, or all at 1000 Mbps). For example, if you specify failover from a 3Com Gigabit Server 1000 PCI NIC to a 3Com 10/100 PCI NIC, you must disable load balancing for that group to achieve the best performance.

•For the best failover performance, turn the spanning tree feature off at switches that are connected directly to the server. If the spanning tree feature is turned on, a failover may be delayed up to 30 seconds while the switch processes the spanning tree algorithm.

•Plan the cable changes required to connect each primary NIC and all secondary NICs to the same network segment.

•Observe the recommended support limit of four groups per server.

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