NIC Teaming or Do I use LACP?

[ZacHolt]

Hi All,

We are planning to add another switch to our current core switch and make it into a stack to address the issue of redundancy.

We plan on having 7 ESXi 5.5 hosts each connected to either stack member (4 physical connections 2x2)

Should we set up LACP on the ESXi hosts and create a LAG for each host on the physical switches or is there a better method.

Regards

[rcporto]

A better approach is use LBT instead of LAG that will add some complexity to your configuration.

Take a look at this blog posts (see final words on the end of both posts):

» Etherchannel and IP Hash or Load Based Teaming? Long White Virtual Clouds

IP-Hash versus LBT - frankdenneman.nl

[bspagna89]

Hi,

I think it is important to know what switches are they? VMware has best practices for each major brand of switch. Once I know more I can help you recommend a config. There are some things to know about LACP and VMware. If you are using standard vSwitches than LACP is not directly supported.

[ZacHolt]

Hello,

They are Dell Networking N2048's

Regards

[antonmajor]

I assume this is for ip storage? iscsi?

Blatant Stop Message from a respected vcdx-nv:

http://wahlnetwork.com/2013/03/05/stop-using-port-channels-to-vsphere-hosts/

Theory:

http://wahlnetwork.com/2014/03/25/avoid-lacp-iscsi-port-binding-multi-nic-vmotion/

Blog That I model my iscsi setups by”

http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2011/08/vsphere-50-storage-features-part-12-iscsi-multipathing-enhan...

Best practices doc:

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/iSCSI_design_deploy.pdf

[ZacHolt]

This is actually for VM traffic for users.

[antonmajor]

my default on that without knowing all the details is yes, use LACP and make the most out of your uplinks.