SMC Networks SMC6624M manual Trunk Configuration Protocols, Protocol Trunking Options

Optimizing Port Usage Through Traffic Control and

Optimizing Port Usage Through Traffic Control and Port Trunking

Port Trunking

	Table 6-4. Trunk Configuration Protocols
Protocol	Trunking Options
LACP	Provides dynamic and static LACP trunking options.
(802.3ad)	• Dynamic LACP — Use the switch-negotiated dynamic LACP trunk when:

– The port on the other end of the trunk link is configured for Active or Passive LACP.

– You want to achieve fault-tolerance for high-availability applications where you want a four-link trunk with one or more standby links available in case an active link goes down. (Both ends of the link must be dynamic LACP.)

• Static LACP — Use the manually configured static LACP trunk when:

	– The port on the other end of the trunk link is configured for a static LACP trunk
	– You want to configure non-default spanning tree (STP) or IGMP parameters on an LACP trunk group.
	– You want an LACP trunk group to operate in a VLAN other than the default VLAN and GVRP is disabled.
	– You want to use a monitor port on the switch to monitor an LACP trunk.
	See “Trunk Group Operation Using LACP” on page 6-23.
Trunk	Provides manually configured, static-only trunking to:
(non-	• Most switches and routing switches not running the 802.3ad LACP protocol.
protocol)	• Windows NT and Unix workstations and servers
	Use the Trunk option when:

–The device to which you want to create a trunk link is using a non-802.3ad trunking protocol

–You are unsure which type of trunk to use, or the device to which you want to create a trunk link is using an unknown trunking protocol.

–You want to use a monitor port on the switch to monitor traffic on a trunk.

	See “Trunk Group Operation Using the “Trunk” Option” on page 6-26.
FEC	Provides static trunking to forwarding devices that also support FEC (Fast
	EtherChannel®), such as some Cisco® switches and routers, and some Unix and Windows NT servers.
	See “Trunk Operation Using the FEC Option” on page 6-26.

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