With link aggregation (line aggregation) BCAM provides a number of functions which support high-performance and reliable network operation. Link aggregation is offered only for Fibre Channels. A suitable power supply is required to use link aggregation. Use of link aggregation cannot be recognized by the communications partners. BS2000 requires only a MAC address and an IP address.
Enhancing the communication performance
Link aggregation enables multiple device connections to be grouped together and operated as a single device. It is unimportant whether the devices, as logical devices, serve a physical Fibre Channel or multiple Fibre Channels. Virtual and real channel adapters can be operated simultaneously.
Link aggregation on the one hand utilizes the good multiplex characteristics of the FC port in BS2000 when multiple logical devices use one channel. On the other hand multiple channels can be used simultaneously without additional measures being required for configuring the network.
In BCAM the number of configurable devices of a link aggregation is limited to 256.
Enhancing the availabilty
Parallel operation of multiple real channels not only results in better communication performance, but also enhances the availability of the network connection. If one of the channels fails, all logical devices assigned to this channel are deactivated and the communication load is automatically distributed over the remaining devices in the aggregation.
Load distribution
The various distinguishable data streams are assigned automatically by BCAM or by the connected device. The distribution algorithms in BCAM and in the device are independent of each other. Packets of a data stream which are sent from BCAM to the device can be transferred over a different channel than packets of the same data stream which are sent from the device to BCAM. The data streams are identified in both BCAM and the device on the basis of the protocol and its attributes which are transported in the IP. As a result, load distribution is not limited to the communication relationships between computers, but takes into account individual application pairs and individual transport connections.
Administration in BCAM
Link aggregations are configured in BCAM. BCAM transfers configuration measures to the connected device with the help of channel commands. Here BCAM recognizes whether the connected device supports the link aggregation and when the device’s capacity limits are exceeded.
Literature about link aggregation
To find information on literature relating the topic of link aggregation, please refer to the paper IEEE Standards 802.3 or search on the internet.