HP Auto Port Aggregation (APA) Release Notes for HP-UX 11i v1 and v2 May 2005

The Catalyst 5000 switch only allows two- or four-port link aggregates. See the Cisco Catalyst 5000
Configuration Guide for information about these limitations.
• When interfacing a HSC 100Base-TX or PCI 4port 100Base-TX to a Cisco Catalyst 5000 switch (with firmware
version 4.5(4)) and ports in Desirable Mode connected to an HP server with ports running HP APA, the link
aggregations might go up and down repeatedly.
Corrective Action: Install patch PHNE_23465 or its superseding patch.
• 3Com SuperStack II Switches
To interoperate with the switch, disable the Trunk Control Message Protocol (TCMP) on all of the ports that are
being used with HP Integrity servers.
Compatibility Information and Installation Requirements
This section describes the compatibility information and installation requirements for this release.
First-time Installation
For an initial HP APA installation, two files, hp_apaconf and hp_apaportconf are placed in /etc/rc.config.d.
The MANUAL default mode will be used.
Configuration File Changes
The configuration file changes for this release are as follows:
• Adds an optional cost parameter to the PRIMARY and STANDBY declarations in the
/etc/lanmon/lanconfig.ascii file. You can add the cost parameter after the port priority; it must be preceded
by a colon (:).
• Adds the HP_APA_LACP_SYSTEM_ID_MODE parameter to the /etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaconf file. Valid
values are: FIRST_APA_PORT and FIRST_LACP_PORT.
• Enables the use of an optional HP_APA_USE_SYSLOG parameter in the /etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaconf file.
Valid values are 0 (to disable) and 1 (to enable). The default value is 0.
Operating System and Version Compatibility
This release is specific for HP-UX 11i v1 (B.11.11).
Hardware Requirements
This version of HP APA runs on HP 9000 servers with the HP-UX 11i v1 (B.11.11) operating system.
HP APA supports Cisco's FastEtherChannel (PAgP) protocol, the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (IEEE 802.3ad), or
manual trunking mechanisms.
HP has tested switches from the following vendors to work with HP APA:
• 3Com Corebuilder and SuperStack
• All Cisco Catalyst series
• HP ProCurve
• Foundry
• Alteon
NOTE: Hot Standby and LAN Monitor modes are both supported with all switches; however, HP strongly recommends
using LAN Monitor rather than Hot Standby mode.
The following network adapter cards are supported:
• All Hewlett-Packard PCI 10/100Base cards (both FX and TX)
• All Hewlett-Packard PCI 1000Base cards (both Base-T and SX)
• PCI Token Ring (LAN Monitor mode only)
• PCI FDDI (LAN Monitor mode only)
Other Requirements
• HP APA must be installed with the system up.
• A reboot will be required.
• Installation requires superuser permissions.
Compatibility Information and Installation Requirements 5