Reference Guide

550 | Layer 2
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NIC Teaming
NIC Teaming is available on the S5000 switch.
NIC teaming is a feature that allows multiple network interface cards in a server to be represented by one
MAC address and one IP address in order to provide transparent redundancy, balancing, and to fully utilize
network adapter resources.
The following illustration shows a topology where two NICs have been teamed together. In this case, if the
primary NIC fails, traffic switches to the secondary NIC since they are represented by the same set of
addresses.
Figure 29-1. Redundant NICs with NIC Teaming
When NIC teaming is employed, consider that the server MAC address is originally learned on Port 0/1 of
the switch (Figure 29-2) and Port 0/5 is the failover port. When the NIC fails, the system automatically
sends an ARP request for the gateway or host NIC to resolve the ARP and refresh the egress interface.
When the ARP is resolved, the same MAC address is learned on the same port where the ARP is resolved
(in the above example, this is Port 0/5 of the switch). To ensure the MAC address is disassociated with one
port and re-associated with another port in the ARP table, you must configure the command
mac-address-table station-move refresh-arp on the Dell Networking switch at the time that NIC teaming is
being configured on the server.
Note: If this command is not configured, traffic continues to be forwarded to the failed NIC until the ARP
entry on the switch times out.
M
AC: A:B:C:D:E:F
IP: 1.1.1.1
fnC0025m
p
D:
E:
F
D
X
Port 0/1
Port 0/5
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