Specifications

Configuring TCP/IP
40 Snap Server Administrator Guide
Load Balancing
An Ethernet port on any server can become a bottleneck or single point of failure for
a network. Using both Ethernet ports in a load balancing scheme increases server
bandwidth and helps to keep users connected and files available.
In load balancing mode, the transmission load is distributed among aggregated
network ports. An intelligent software adaptive agent repeatedly analyzes the
traffic flow from the server and distributes the packets based on destination
addresses. This configuration enables the even distribution of network traffic across
multiple network interfaces for optimal network performance.
Tip
Load balancing can occur only on Layer 3 routed protocols (IP).
Failover
This mode uses the first Ethernet port as the primary network interface and the
second Ethernet port is held in reserve as the backup interface. Redundant network
interfaces ensure that an active port is available at all times. If the primary port
(Ethernet1) fails due to a hardware or cable problem, the secondary port (Ethernet2)
assumes its network identity.
The transition is transparent to users, although some may experience a few seconds
of inactivity. If the failed port comes back online, it resumes its role as the primary
interface. Failover mode ensures server availability to the network, but it does not
provide switch fault tolerance.
Understanding Speed and Duplex Options
The Ethernet ports are capable of 10/100/1000 Mbps speeds, half/full- duplex, and
autonegotiating configurations. The speed setting establishes the rate for
transmission and reception of data. The duplex setting causes the Ethernet port to
transmit packets in one way or two ways at the same time.
• Half-duplex Ethernet —
Allows one-way transfer of data at a specified speed.
• Full-duplex Ethernet —
Doubles the carrying capacity of a connection between
two systems by allowing each system to simultaneously transmit and receive
data. For example, a 100 Mbps/half connection allows 100 Mbps transfer speed
in one direction at a time. A 100/full connection allows 100 Mbps transfer speed
in both send and receive directions.
Busy networks that involve large file transfers between multiple clients benefit most
from a full-duplex Ethernet, since they can send and receive traffic simultaneously
from several clients.