White Papers

Microsoft Network Load Balancing
Network load balancing (NLB) is a clustering functionality that is implemented by Microsoft on Windows 2000 Server and
Windows Server 2003 operating systems. Microsoft NLB clustering allows multiple servers running Microsoft Windows to be
represented by one MAC and one IP address to provide transparent failover and load-balancing. The Dell EMC Networking OS
does not recognize server clusters by default; you must configure NLB functionality on a switch to support server clusters. The
maximum NLB entry limit from 8 to 11 is increased and support for more CAM-ACL to increase.
Topics:
• arp (for Multicast MAC Address)
• ip vlan-flooding
• mac-address-table static (for Multicast MAC Address)
arp (for Multicast MAC Address)
To associate an IP address of a server cluster with a multicast MAC address in the switch for the multicast mode of network
load balancing (NLB), use the address resolution protocol (ARP).
Syntax
arp ip-address multicast-mac-address interface
To remove an ARP address, use the no arp ip-address command.
Parameters
ip-address Enter an IP address in dotted decimal format.
multicast-mac-
address
Enter a 48-bit hexadecimal address in nn:nn:nn:nn:nn:nn format for the static MAC
address to be used to switch multicast traffic.
interface Enter any of the following keywords and slot/port or number information:
● For a 10-Gigabit Ethernet interface, enter the keyword
TenGigabitEthernet then the slot/port information.
● For a 40-Gigabit Ethernet interface, enter the keyword fortyGigE then the
slot/port information.
● For a port channel interface, enter the keywords port-channel then a
number.
● The specified interface must be configured using the {output-range |
output} interface option with the mac-address-table static
command.
Defaults Not configured.
Command Modes CONFIGURATION
Command
History
Version Description
9.8(1.0) Introduced on the Z9100–ON.
9.7(0.0) Introduced on the S6000-ON.
9.5(0.1) Added support for the association of an IP address with a multicast MAC address
on the Z95000.
9.3(0.0) Added support for the association of an IP address with a multicast MAC address
on the S4810, S4820T, S6000, and Z9000.
Usage
Information
For the multicast mode of NLB, use ARP to associate the IP address of a server cluster with a multicast
MAC address in the switch, by entering the arp ip-address multicast-mac-address command.
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Microsoft Network Load Balancing 1023