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1.5 Function Descriptions
1.5.1 LACP Trunking Function
The switch provides a trunking function, which is compliant with 802.3ad
standard. 802.3ad is a specification from IEEE that allows us to bundle
several physical port links together to form one logical port , called a
trunk between two devices. It supports Link Aggregation Control Proto-
col (LACP).
IEEE 802.3ad trunking also allows redundant connections between de-
vices to be combined for more aggregate bandwidth between devices
supporting LACP.
The LACP provides a standardized means for exchanging information
between two link partners on a link to allow their Link Aggregation Con-
trol instances to reach agreement on the identity of the Link Aggregation
Group to which the link belongs, move the link to that Link Aggregation
Group, and enable its transmission and reception functions in an orderly
manner.
The switch can support up to seven trunk groups, or called trunk ports
or trunks. Each group is a logic port and can have up to 4 physical port
members. A physical port can only belong to one trunk group. Each
trunk group can be set LACP disabled or enabled. The operations are:
LACP disabled
If one trunk group is LACP disabled, it becomes a local static trunk and
all member ports are forced to be work ports. The link aggregation is
formed and there is no LACP negotiation taking place. Maximal four
member ports are allowed.
LACP enabled
If one trunk group is LACP enabled, it is called LACP static trunk. Link
aggregation is formed through LACP negotiation between link partners.
Up to four ports can be selected as member ports for each trunk group.
However, the max. two ports, called work ports can be aggregated at the