IBM Eserver xSeries 360 Type 8686, User Reference Manual

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IBM® xSeries 360: User’s Reference
High-performance Ethernet modes
If you install an optional Ethernet adapter, you can use it together with the integrated
Ethernet controller to support optional modes, such as teaming, priority packets, and
virtual LANs, which provide higher performance and throughput for the server. These
modes apply to the integrated Ethernet controller and to the controllers on the
supported Ethernet adapters.
Teaming Mode
Teaming options increase throughput and fault tolerance when running with Windows
NT, Windows 2000, or NetWare 4.1x or later.
• Adapter fault tolerance (AFT) provides automatic redundancy for the Ethernet
controller. If the primary controller fails, the optional Ethernet adapter takes over.
Adapter fault tolerance supports from 2 to 4 controllers per team.
• Adaptive load balancing (ALB) enables you to balance the transmission data
flow among 2 to 4 Ethernet controllers. ALB also includes the AFT option. You
can use ALB with any 100BASE-TX switch.
• Cisco Fast EtherChannel (FEC) creates a team of 2 to 4 Ethernet controllers to
increase transmission and reception thoughput. FEC also includes the AFT
option. You can only use FEC with a switch that has FEC capability.
Teaming requires at least two Ethernet controllers. For additional information about
the teaming modes, refer to the documentation that comes with the additional
Ethernet adapters.
Priority Packet mode
Priority Packet is a traffic-prioritization utility that enables you to set up filters to
process high-priority traffic before normal traffic. You can send information from
critical nodes or applications with an indicated priority. Because you set this priority at
the host or entry point of the network, the network devices can base forwarding
decisions on priority information defined in the packet.
Priority Packet information is available on the IBM Networking Web site at
http://www.ibm.com/networking/support.
Priority Packet prioritizes traffic based on priority filters. These are parameters you
assign to outgoing (transmit) packets. Using the Priority Filter Wizard, you can set up
predefined or custom priority filters based on a node (MAC) address, Ethernet type, or
by various properties of the protocol and port. Priority Packet provides two different
methods for prioritizing traffic: IEEE 802.1p tagging and High Priority Queue.
IEEE 802.1p is an IEEE standard for tagging, or adding additional bytes of information
to packets with different priority levels. Packets are tagged with 4 additional bytes,
which increase the packet size and indicate a priority level. When you send these
packets out on the network, the higher priority packets are transferred first. Priority
Packet tagging (also known as Traffic Class Expediting) enables the Ethernet
controller to work with other elements of the network (such as switches and routers) to
deliver priority packets first. You can assign specific priority levels from 0 (low) to 7
(high).
You can assign values to packets based on their priority when you use the IEEE
802.1p standard for packet tagging. This method requires a network infrastructure
that supports packet tagging. The routing devices receiving and transferring these
packets on the network must support 802.1p for tagging to be effective.