07+Eth-Trunk+iStack+and+CSS
07+Eth-Trunk+iStack+and+CSS
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Foreword
• As services develop and the campus network scale expands, users have increasingly
demanding requirements on network bandwidth and reliability. Traditional solutions
improve network bandwidth by upgrading devices and implement high reliability by
deploying redundant links and using the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), leading to low
flexibility, time-consuming troubleshooting, and complex configuration.
• This chapter describes how to use Eth-Trunk, intelligent stack (iStack), and cluster
switch system (CSS) technologies to improve network bandwidth and reliability.
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Objectives
● On completion of this course, you will be able to:
▫ Understand the functions of link aggregation.
▫ Understand the link aggregation negotiation process in Link Aggregation Control Protocol
(LACP) mode.
▫ Understand the advantages and principles of iStack and CSS.
▫ Understand the common applications and networking of link aggregation and stacking
technologies.
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Contents
1. Network Reliability Requirements
2. Principle and Configuration of Link Aggregation
3. Overview of iStack and CSS
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Network Reliability
• Network reliability refers to the capability of ensuring nonstop network services when a
single point or multiple points of failure occur on a device or link.
• Network reliability can be implemented at the card, device, and link levels.
Highly reliable network
iStack
Link Link
Network A aggregation aggregation Network B
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Card Reliability (1)
• A modular switch consists of a chassis, power modules, fan modules, main
processing units (MPUs), switch fabric units (SFUs), and line processing units
MPU (LPUs).
LPU • Chassis: provides slots for various cards and modules to implement inter-card
communication.
LPU • MPU: responsible for the control plane and management plane of the entire
system.
• SFU: responsible for the data plane of the entire system. The data plane
Mounting
bracket provides high-speed non-blocking data channels for data switching between
service modules.
Power module
• LPU: provides data forwarding functions on a physical device and provides
Front view of the
S12700E-8 chassis optical and electrical interfaces of different rates.
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Card Reliability (2)
The failure of a single
MPU does not affect the • For example, the S12700E-8 provides eight
normal operation of the
MPU
control platform. LPU slots, four SFU slots, two MPU slots,
six power module slots, and four fan
LPU If some SFUs
are faulty, the module slots.
data plane can
still forward • A modular switch can be configured with
SFU data properly.
multiple MPUs and SFUs to ensure device
reliability. If an SFU or MPU in a single slot
LPU
is faulty, the switch can still run properly.
If the LPU is
faulty, the • After an LPU of a modular switch is
interfaces on the
LPU are affected. damaged, interfaces on the LPU cannot
forward data.
Front view of the
S12700E-8 chassis
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Device Reliability
No backup Master/Backup mode
R Root port
Network Network
A Alternative port
If the aggregation
switch is faulty, traffic
from the downstream When the root
Aggregation switch cannot be Aggregation
port fails, the
switch forwarded. switch
alternative port
continues to
R A
forward packets.
Access Access STP
switch switch
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Link Reliability
STP STP
To improve link
Aggregation Aggregation reliability, a new link
switch switch will be added. This
link is blocked by
STP and functions as
a backup link.
Access Access
switch switch
• To ensure link reliability, deploy multiple physical links between devices. To prevent loops, configure STP to
ensure that traffic is forwarded on only one link, and other links function as backup links.
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Contents
1. Network Reliability Requirements
2. Principle and Configuration of Link Aggregation
▪ Principle
▫ Manual Mode
▫ LACP Mode
▫ Configuration Example
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Increasing Link Bandwidth
• When multiple links exist between devices, traffic is forwarded on only one link due to
STP. In this case, the inter-device link bandwidth remains unchanged.
F Interface that
forwards traffic
B Interface blocked due to STP
SW1 SW2
F F
STP
root F B
bridge F B
F B
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Eth-Trunk
• Ethernet link aggregation, also called Eth-Trunk, bundles multiple physical links into a
logical link to increase link bandwidth, without having to upgrade hardware.
SW1 SW2
F F
F F
F F
F F
Eth-Trunk
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Basic Concepts of Eth-Trunk
• A link aggregation group (LAG) is a logical link formed by bundling
several links. Each LAG has one logical interface, known as an LAG
interface or Eth-Trunk interface.
Eth-Trunk interface
SW1 • Member interface and member link: Physical interfaces that constitute
S S U U an Eth-Trunk interface are called member interfaces, and the link
corresponding to a member interface is known as a member link.
Member • Active interface and active link: An active interface is also called a
link selected interface and is a member interface that participates in data
Member
forwarding. The link corresponding to an active interface is called an
interface
active link.
LAG
• Inactive interface and inactive link: An inactive interface is also called
an unselected interface and is a member interface that does not
S S U U participate in data forwarding. A link corresponding to an inactive
SW2 interface is referred to as an inactive link.
Eth-Trunk interface • Link aggregation mode: Based on whether the Link Aggregation
Control Protocol (LACP) is enabled, link aggregation can be classified
into manual mode and LACP mode.
S Active interface • Other concepts: upper and lower thresholds for the number of active
interfaces
U Inactive interface
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Contents
1. Network Reliability Requirements
2. Principle and Configuration of Link Aggregation
▫ Principle
▪ Manual Mode
▫ LACP Mode
▫ Configuration Example
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Manual Mode
S Active interface
SW1 SW2
S S
S S
S S
S S
Eth-Trunk
• Manual mode: An Eth-Trunk is manually created, and its member interfaces are manually configured. LACP is not used
for negotiation between the two systems.
• In most cases, all links are active links. In this mode, all active links forward data and evenly share traffic. If an active link
is faulty, the LAG automatically evenly shares traffic among the remaining active links.
• If one of the devices at both ends of an LAG does not support LACP, you can use the manual mode.
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Defects of the Manual Mode (1)
S Active interface
SW1 SW2
S S
Eth-Trunk
Eth-Trunk
interface
interface
S S
S S
S
Eth-Trunk in
manual mode
SW3
• To ensure that the Eth-Trunk works properly, ensure that the peer interfaces of all member interfaces in the Eth-Trunk
meet the following requirements:
▫ The peer interfaces reside on the same device.
▫ The peer interfaces are added to the same Eth-Trunk.
• In manual mode, devices do not exchange packets. Therefore, the configuration needs to be manually confirmed.
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Defects of the Manual Mode (2)
S Active interface
F Faulty interface
SW1 SW2
S S
S S
S S
S F
Eth-Trunk
Interface in Up state
but failing to forward
packets
• In manual mode, the device can determine whether the peer interface is working properly based only on
the physical layer status.
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Contents
1. Network Reliability Requirements
2. Principle and Configuration of Link Aggregation
▫ Principle
▫ Manual Mode
▪ LACP Mode
▫ Configuration Example
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Packet Maximum Number of Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction Active Interfaces Election
LACPDU
LACPDU
SW1 SW2
S S
Eth-Trunk in LACP mode
Eth-Trunk
Eth-Trunk
interface
interface
S S
S S
S S
LACPDU
Device priority
MAC address
Interface priority
Interface number
...
• LACP mode: A link aggregation mode that uses the LACP protocol. Devices exchange Link Aggregation Control Protocol
Data Units (LACPDUs) to ensure that the peer interfaces are member interfaces that belong to the same Eth-Trunk and
are on the same device.
• An LACPDU contains the device priority, MAC address, interface priority, and interface number.
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Packet Maximum Number of Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction Active Interfaces Election
System Priority
• In LACP mode, the number of active interfaces selected by devices at both ends must be consistent;
otherwise, the Eth-Trunk cannot be set up. In this case, configure one end as the Actor. Then the other end
selects active interfaces according to the Actor.
• The Actor is determined based on the LACP system priority. A smaller value indicates a higher priority.
SW1 Eth-Trunk in LACP mode SW2
S S
Eth-Trunk
Eth-Trunk
interface
interface
S S
S S
S S
LACPDU
S Active interface Device priority By default, the LACP system priority is 32768. A
MAC address
smaller value indicates a higher priority.
LACPDU Generally, the default value is used. When the
Interface priority
priorities are the same, LACP selects the Actor
Interface number by comparing the MAC addresses. A smaller
... MAC address indicates a higher priority.
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Packet Maximum Number of Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction Active Interfaces Election
Interface Priority
• After the Actor is selected, both devices select active interfaces based on the interface priorities of the
Actor. A smaller LACP interface priority value indicates a higher priority.
Eth-Trunk
interface
interface
S S
S S
S S
LACPDU
By default, the LACP interface priority of an
S Active interface Device priority interface is 32768. A smaller value indicates a
MAC address higher priority. Generally, the default value is
LACPDU
Interface priority used. When the priorities are the same, LACP
Interface number selects active interfaces based on interface
...
numbers. A smaller interface number indicates
a higher priority.
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Packet Maximum Number Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction of Active Interfaces Election
Eth-Trunk
interface
interface
2 2
3 3
4 4
Active interface
Inactive interface
Active link
Inactive link
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Packet Maximum Number Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction of Active Interfaces Election
Eth-Trunk
Eth-Trunk
interface
interface
2 2
3 3
4 4
Active interface
Inactive interface
Active link
Inactive link
Faulty link
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Packet Maximum Number of Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction Active Interfaces Election
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Packet Maximum Number of Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction Active Interfaces Election
Active interface
Inactive interface
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Packet Maximum Number of Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction Active Interfaces Election
2 2
3 3
• SW1 notifies the peer end of the elected active interfaces
4 4 through LACPDUs.
LACPDU
Active interface
Inactive interface
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Packet Maximum Number of Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction Active Interfaces Election
LACPDU
Active interface
Inactive interface
Active link
Inactive link
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Packet Maximum Number of Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction Active Interfaces Election
Load Balancing
Per-packet load balancing Per-flow load balancing
S Active interface S Active interface
Eth-Trunk Eth-Trunk
When an Eth-Trunk is used to forward data, there are Load balancing based on flows is recommended for an
multiple physical links between devices at both ends of the Eth-Trunk. In this mode, a flow is load balanced to the
Eth-Trunk. If data frames are forwarded on different links, same link. This ensures that frames of the same flow are
data frames may arrive at the peer end in a different order transmitted over the same physical link and implements
in which they were transmitted, resulting in out-of-order load balancing among physical links in an Eth-Trunk.
packets.
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Packet Maximum Number of Active Link
Load Balancing
Introduction Active Interfaces Election
S S S S
S S S S
Same source and S S Same source and S S
destination MAC addresses destination MAC addresses
but different source and Eth-Trunk but different source and Eth-Trunk
destination IP addresses destination IP addresses
Source and destination Source and destination
IP address mode MAC address mode
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Contents
1. Network Reliability Requirements
2. Principle and Configuration of Link Aggregation
▫ Principle
▫ Manual Mode
▫ LACP Mode
▫ Configuration Example
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Typical Application Scenario (1)
Between switches Between the switch and server
Core switch
Network
Eth-Trunk
Aggregation
switch Access
switch
Eth-Trunk Eth-Trunk
Access Server
switch
To ensure the bandwidth and reliability of links between To improve the access bandwidth and reliability of the
switches, deploy multiple physical links between switches server, bind two or more physical NICs into a NIC group and
and add them to an Eth-Trunk. establish an Eth-Trunk with the switch.
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Typical Application Scenario (2)
Between a switch and stack Heartbeat link of firewalls in hot standby mode
Stacking cable
Aggregation
switch
Eth-Trunk
Eth-Trunk
Access
switch
Hot standby
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Contents
1. Network Reliability Requirements
2. Principle and Configuration of Link Aggregation
▫ Principle
▫ Manual Mode
▫ LACP Mode
▪ Configuration Example
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Configuration Commands (1)
1. Create an Eth-Trunk.
To enable the LACP mode, run mode lacp. To enable the manual mode, run mode manual load-balance.
Note: The link aggregation modes at both ends must be the same.
3. Add an interface to the Eth-Trunk (Ethernet interface view).
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Configuration Commands (2)
4. Add an interface to the Eth-Trunk (Eth-Trunk view).
In the Eth-Trunk view, the interface is added to the Eth-Trunk. You can use either of the preceding commands to
add an interface to an Eth-Trunk.
5. Enable interfaces at different rates to join the same Eth-Trunk interface.
By default, interfaces at different rates are not allowed to join the same Eth-Trunk, and only interfaces at the same
rate can be added to the same Eth-Trunk.
6. Configure the LACP system priority.
A smaller priority value indicates a higher LACP system priority. By default, the LACP priority is 32768.
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Configuration Commands (3)
7. Configure the LACP interface priority.
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Example for Configuring an Eth-Trunk in
Manual Mode
SW1 configuration:
Eth-Trunk [SW1] interface eth-trunk 1
GE0/0/1 GE0/0/1 [SW1-Eth-Trunk1] trunkport gigabitethernet 0/0/1 to 0/0/2
GE0/0/2 GE0/0/2 [SW1-Eth-Trunk1] port link-type trunk
[SW1-Eth-Trunk1] port trunk allow-pass vlan 10 20
SW1 SW2
• Requirement description:
SW2 configuration:
▫ SW1 and SW2 are connected to the networks of VLAN 10 and
VLAN 20. [SW2] interface eth-trunk 1
[SW2-Eth-Trunk1] trunkport gigabitethernet 0/0/1 to 0/0/2
▫ SW1 and SW2 are connected through two Ethernet links. To [SW2-Eth-Trunk1] port link-type trunk
[SW2-Eth-Trunk1] port trunk allow-pass vlan 10 20
provide link redundancy and enhance transmission reliability,
configure an Eth-Trunk in manual mode between SW1 and
SW2.
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Example for Configuring an Eth-Trunk in
LACP Mode (1)
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Example for Configuring an Eth-Trunk in
LACP Mode (2)
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Contents
1. Network Reliability Requirements
2. Principle and Configuration of Link Aggregation
3. Overview of iStack and CSS
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Introduction to iStack and CSS
iStack CSS
Equivalent to
Equivalent to Link
Link aggregation aggregation
• iStack: Multiple iStack-capable switches are connected using stacking cables to form a logical switch that participates in
data forwarding.
• Cluster switch system (CSS): Two CSS-capable switches are bundled into one logical switch.
• A CSS consists of only two switches. Generally, modular switches support CSS, and fixed switches support iStack.
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Advantages of iStack and CSS
Eth-Trunk
• One logical device simplifies O&M
and facilitates management.
• If a physical device fails, the other
device can take over the
forwarding and control functions,
CSS preventing single points of failure.
Equivalent to
• Inter-device link aggregation is
implemented on a loop-free
physical network, so STP does
iStack not need to be deployed.
• All links in the Eth-Trunk are used,
Physical forms of CSS and iStack Logical forms of CSS and iStack and the link usage is 100%.
• Many-to-one virtualization: Switches can be virtualized into one logical switch (CSS) that has a unified control plane for unified management.
• Unified forwarding plane: Physical switches in a CSS use a unified forwarding plane, and share and synchronize forwarding information in real time.
• Inter-device link aggregation: Links between physical switches are aggregated into a single Eth-Trunk interface to interconnect with downstream devices.
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Application (1)
Extending the bandwidth and implementing
Extending the port quantity
redundancy backup
iStack link Eth-Trunk
iStack link
Aggregation
layer
Access
layer
iStack
Access
layer
iStack
• When the port density of a switch cannot meet the access • To increase the uplink bandwidth, add new switches to set up an
requirements, add new switches to set up an iStack to increase the iStack and add multiple physical links of the member switches to
number of ports. an Eth-Trunk. This increases the uplink bandwidth, implements
inter-device backup and inter-device link redundancy, and
improves reliability.
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Application (2)
CSS link Eth-Trunk
MSTP+VRRP
CSS
Aggregation
layer
Access layer
• Two devices form a CSS and are virtualized into a single logical device. This simplified network does not
require Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) or Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), so
network configuration is much simpler. Additionally, inter-device link aggregation speeds up network
convergence and improves network reliability.
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Recommended Architecture
Network
Aggregation layer
• Aggregation switches set up an iStack and use Eth-Trunks to
iStack
connect to uplink and downlink devices, building a highly
reliable loop-free network.
Access layer
• Access devices that are geographically close to each other
(such as access switches in a building) are virtualized into one
logical device using iStack. This adds interfaces and simplifies
iStack iStack management.
• An Eth-Trunk is used to connect to the aggregation layer. The
logical network architecture is simple, and STP and VRRP are
not required. This networking offers high reliability, high uplink
bandwidth, and fast convergence.
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Quiz
1. What are the differences between per-packet load balancing and per-flow load balancing?
2. How does an Actor be elected in LACP mode?
3. What are the advantages of CSS and iStack?
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Summary
• Link aggregation can be used to improve link reliability, utilization, and bandwidth. Link
aggregation can be classified into static and LACP aggregation based on the
aggregation mode.
• LACP uses packet negotiation to implement backup for active links. When a link fails,
the backup link is elected as the active link to forward packets.
• To ensure the sequence in which packets arrive, link aggregation uses per-flow load
balancing.
• iStack and CSS simplify network management and network structure, and improve
network reliability.
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Thank You
www.huawei.com
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