Sample Config for EtherChannel/Link agg with Cisco/HP

LINK to the Direct VMWARE KB PAGE
The following are EtherChannel supported scenarios:
One IP to many IP connections. (Host A making two connection sessions to Host B and C)

Many IP to many IP connections. (Host A and B multiple connection sessions to Host C,D, and etc)

Note: One IP to one IP connections over multiple NIC is not supported. (Host A one connection session to Host B uses only one NIC)

Compatible with all ESX VLAN configuration modes: VST, EST, and VGT. For more information on these modes, see Configuring VLANs in an ESX Server environment (1003806).

Supported Cisco configuration: EtherChannel Mode ON – (Enable Etherchannel only)

Supported HP configuration: Trunk Mode

Supported switch Aggregation algorithm: IP-SRC-DST short for (IP-Source-Destination)

Supported Virtual Switch NIC Teaming mode: IP HASH

Lower model Cisco switches may have MAC-SRC-DST set by default and may require additional configuration. See the following article for additional information: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk389/tk213/technologies_tech_note09186a0080094714.shtml

The following is a Cisco EtherChannel sample configuration:

interface Port-channel1

switchport

switchport access vlan 100

switchport mode access

no ip address

!

interface GigabitEthernet1/1

switchport

switchport access vlan 100

switchport mode access

no ip address

channel-group 1 mode on

!

ESX Server and Cisco switch sample topology and configuration:

Run the following command to verify EtherChannel loadbalancing mode configuration:

Switch# show etherchannel load-balance

EtherChannel Load-Balancing Configuration:

src-dst-ip

mpls label-ip

EtherChannel Load-Balancing Addresses Used Per-Protocol:

Non-IP: Source XOR Destination MAC address

IPv4: Source XOR Destination IP address

IPv6: Source XOR Destination IP address

MPLS: Label or IP

Switch#show etherchannel summary

Flags: D - down P - bundled in port-channel
I - stand-alone s - suspended
H - Hot-standby (LACP only)
R - Layer3 S - Layer2
U - in use f - failed to allocate aggregator
M - not in use, minimum links not met
u - unsuitable for bundling
w - waiting to be aggregated
Number of channel-groups in use: 2
Number of aggregators: 2

Group Port-channel Protocol Ports

------+-------------+-----------+--------------------------

1 Po1(SU) - Gi1/15(P) Gi1/16(P)

2 Po2(SU) - Gi1/1(P) Gi1/2(P)

Switch#show etherchann protocol

Channel-group listing:

-----------------------

Group: 1

----------

Protocol: - (Mode ON)

Group: 2

----------

Protocol: - (Mode ON)

HP Switches Sample Configuration

The following configuration is specific to HP switches:

HP switches supports only two modes of LACP, ACTIVE, and PASSIVE while ESX does not support either LACP mode currently.

Set HP Switch port mode to TRUNKto accomplish static link aggregation with ESX.

TRUNK Modeof HP switch ports are the only supported aggregation method compatible with ESX 3.X NIC teaming mode IP hash.

Configuring loadbalancing within the Virtual Infrastructure Client

To configure vSwitch properties for loadbalancing:

Highlight the ESX Server host.

Click the Configuration tab.

Click the Networking link.

Click Properties.

Highlight the virtual switch in the Ports tab and click Edit.

Click the NIC Teaming tab.

From the Load Balancing dropdown, choose Route based on ip hash.

Verify that there are two or more network adapters listed under Active Adapters.