Specifications

Alcatel-Lucent Page 19
OmniSwitch 6850 Series
Dynamic (IEEE 802.3ad) Link Aggregation Alcatel-Lucent’s link aggregation software allows you to configure two different types of link
aggregation groups:
• Static link aggregate (OmniChannel) groups
• Dynamic link aggregate groups
Dynamic Link aggregation allows you to combine 2, 4, or 8 physical connections into large virtual
connections known as link aggregation groups. You can create up to 32 link aggregation groups on a
standalone switch.
You can create Virtual LANs (VLANs), configure Quality of Service (QoS) conditions, 802.1Q
framing, and other networking features on link aggregation groups because switch software treats these
virtual links just like physical links.
Link aggregation groups are identified by unique MAC addresses, which are created by the switch but
can be modified by the user at any time. Load balancing for Layer 2 non-IP packets is on a MAC
address basis and for IP packets the balancing algorithm uses IP address as well. Ports must be the
same speed within the same aggregate group.
Using link aggregation can provide the following benefits:
• Scalability: On OmniSwitch 6850 switches, you can configure up to 32 link-aggregation
groups that can consist of 2, 4, or 8 10-Mbps, 100-Mbps, 1-Gbps, or 10-Gbps Ethernet
links.
• Reliability: If one of the physical links in a link aggregate group goes down (unless it is the
last one) the link aggregate group can still operate.
• Ease of Migration: Link aggregation can ease the transition from a 100 Mbps Ethernet
backbones to Gigabit Ethernet backbones.
Dynamic (IEEE 802.3ad) Link Aggregation Specifications:
IEEE Specification supported: IEEE 802.3ad – Aggregation of Multiple Link Segments
Maximum number of link aggregation groups per stand-alone OmniSwitch 6850 Series switches: 32
Number of Links per group supported: 2,4, or 8
Range for optional group name: 1 to 225 characters
Group actor admin key: 0 to 65535
Group actor system priority: 0 to 65535
Group partner system priority: 0 to 65535
Group partner admin key: 0 to 65535
Port actor admin key: 0 to 65535
Port actor system priority: 0 to 255
Port partner admin key: 0 to 65535
Port partner admin system priority: 0 to 255
Port actor port: 0 to 65535
Port actor priority: 0 to 255
Port partner admin port: 0 to 65535
Port partner admin port priority: 0 to 255
CLI Command Prefix Recognition: All dynamic link aggregation configuration commands support
prefix recognition.
Note: Link aggregation traps include one that will send a trap when a single link in the aggregate group
is down or cannot join the aggregate group.
Automatic Monitoring Automatic monitoring refers to the switch’s built-in sensors that automatically monitor operations. If
an error is detected (e.g., over-threshold temperature), the switch immediately sends a trap to the user.
The trap is displayed on the console in the form of a text error message. (In the case of an over-
threshold temperature condition, the chassis displays an amber TEMP LED in addition to sending a
trap.)
Monitoring the Chassis OmniSwitch 6850 Series switches can be monitored and managed via the console port using Command
Line Interface (CLI) commands. The switches can also be monitored and managed via the Ethernet
ports using CLI commands, WebView (Alcatel-Lucent AOS web-based Element Manager), SNMPv3,
and Alcatel-Lucent OmniVista NMS.
Using LEDs to Visually Monitor the Chassis The front panel of OS6850 switches and NI Modules provides status LEDs that are useful in visually
monitoring the status of NI modules.
Front panel LEDs include:
• Ethernet Port LEDs, and Slot Indicator LED
• System Status LEDs
User-Driven Monitoring User-driven hardware monitoring refers to CLI commands that are entered by the user in order to
access the current status of hardware components. The user enters “show” commands that output
information to the console. Monitoring information for chassis components such as the optional back
up power supply, chassis temperature sensor, chassis fans…etc.