HP ProLiant DL380 G5 Data Protection Storage Server Administration Guide (434184-001, September 2006)

TCP Connection
TCP Connection is also a load-balancing method that is designed to preserve frame ordering. This
method will load balance outbound traffic based on the TCP port information in the frame’s TCP
header. This load-balancing method combines the TCP source and destination ports to identify the TCP
conversation. Combining these values, the algorithm can identify individual TCP conversations (even
multiple conv
ersations bet ween the team and one other network device) . The algorithm used to choose
which teamed p ort to use per TCP conversation is similar to the algorithms used in the “D estination IP
Address method” and “Destination MAC Address method” sections below.
If this method
is chosen, and the frame has an IP header with and IP address but not a TCP h eader,
then the frame is load balanced by destination IP address (refer to “TLB Destination IP Address method”
below). If the frame does not have an IP header, the frame is load balanced by destination M AC address
(refer to “TL
B Destination MAC Address method” below).
Destination IP Address
Destination IP Address is a load-balancing method that will attempt to preserve frame ordering. This
method makes load-balancing decisions based on the destination IP address of the frame being
transmitted by the teaming driver. The frame’s destination IP address belongs to the network device that
will ultimately receive the frame. The team utilizes the last three bits of the destination I P address to assign
the frame to a port for transmission.
If the Destination IP Address algorithm is chosen, and the frame does not have an IP header, the frame is
load balanced by destination MAC address (refer to “ D estination MAC Address method” below).
Destination MAC Address
Destination MAC Address is another load-balancing m ethod that will at tempt to preserve frame ordering.
This algorithm makes load-balancing decisions based on the destination MAC address of the frame being
transmitted by the teaming driver. The destination MAC address of the frame is the MAC a ddress
that belongs to the next network device that will receive the frame. This next network device could be
the ultimate destination for the frame or it could be an intermediate router used to get to the ultim a te
destination. The teaming driver utilizes the last three bits of the destination MAC address and assigns
the frame to a port for transmission.
Round Robin (Packet order not guaranteed)
Round Robin is a load-balancing method that will NOT preser ve frame ordering. This m ethod is the
simplest of all methods. It load balances every outbound frame of every operational teamed por t on a
frame–by-frame basis. Absolutely no frame ordering is maintained. All teamed ports are equally used.
HP recommends that the implications of this method of load balancing be carefully considered before
deployment.
Addit
ional references
For more information about ProLiant network adapters and ad apter teaming, see the following links:
• Whitepapers
h
ttp:
//h18004.www1.hp.com/produ cts/servers/networking/whitepape rs.html
• ProLiant net working
h
ttp://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/networkin g/index.htm l
HP ProLiant DL380 G5 Data Protection Storage Server 53