# Teaming

Teaming is a feature of Intel Advanced Network Services (ANS) software. This is available when two or more suitable adapters are configured to operate as a team using Intel® PROSet software.

## Setting up Adapter Teaming

| IMPORTANT: Be sure to use the latest available drivers on all adapters. If you are using an Intel® 10GbE Server Adapter and an Intel Gigabit adapter in the same machine, the driver for the Gigabit adapter must be updated with the version on the Intel 10GbE CD or respective download package. Before creating a team, adding or removing team members, or changing advanced settings of a team member, make sure each team member has been configured similarly. Settings to check include VLANs and QoS Packet Tagging, Jumbo Frames, and the various offloads. These settings are available on the Advanced Settings tab. Pay particular attention when using different adapter models or adapter versions, as adapter capabilities vary. If team members implement Intel ANS features differently, failover and team functionality may be affected. To avoid team implementation issues: Create teams that use similar adapter types and models. Reload the team after adding an adapter or changing any Advanced features. One way to reload the team is to select a new preferred primary adapter. Although there will be a temporary loss of network connectivity as the team reconfigures, the team will maintain its network addressing schema.

| NOTES: Intel 10GbE Server Adapters can team with Intel Gigabit adapters and certain server-oriented models from other manufacturers. If you are using a Windows-based computer, adapters that appear in the Intel® PROSet teaming wizard may be included in a team. Hot Add/Remove of an adapter to/from a team or VLAN is available in Windows* 2000, Windows Server* 2003, and Windows Server 2008. Teaming only one adapter port is possible, but provides no benefit.

## Adapter Fault Tolerance

Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT) provides the safety of an additional backup link between the server and switch. In the case of switch port, cable, or adapter failure, you can maintain network connectivity. If the primary adapter fails, the secondary adapter takes over. AFT supports two to eight adapters per team. This teaming type works with any hub or switch, and all adapters must be connected to the same subnet.

To use Adapter Fault Tolerance, you must have at least one Intel Gigabit or 10GbE server adapter in your team. Furthermore, all adapters must be linked to the same switch or hub.

### Primary and Secondary Adapters

Adapter Fault Tolerance is implemented with a primary adapter, and one or more backup, or secondary adapters. During normal operation, the primary adapter is the only adapter in the team that responds to traffic. The backup adapters are in standby. If the link to the primary adapter fails, the link to the designated secondary adapter automatically takes over.

There are two types of primary and secondary adapters:

- Default primary adapter: If you do not specify a preferred primary adapter, the software will choose an adapter of the highest capability (model and speed) to act as the default primary. If a failover occurs, another adapter becomes the primary. Once the problem with the original primary is resolved, the traffic will not automatically restore to the default (original) primary adapter in most cases. The adapter will, however, rejoin the team as a non-primary.

- Preferred Primary/Secondary adapters: You can specify a preferred adapter in Intel PROSet. Under normal conditions, the Primary adapter handles all traffic. The Secondary adapter will receive fallback traffic if the primary fails. If the Preferred Primary adapter fails, but is later restored to an active status, control is automatically switched back to the Preferred Primary adapter.

To specify a preferred primary or secondary adapter

1. From Device Manager, open the properties of a team.

2. Click the Settings tab.

3. Click the Modify Team button.

4. Select the adapter you want to be the primary adapter and click the Set Primary button.

The adapter's preferred setting appears in the Priority column.

## Adaptive Load Balancing

Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB) uses software to balance routable traffic among a team of two to eight adapters (must include at least one server adapter) connected to the same subnet. On computers running Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, ALB balances routable transmit traffic. With Receive Load Balancing (RLB) enabled, it balances IP receive traffic. The software analyzes the send and transmit loading on each adapter and balances the rate across the adapters based on destination address. Adapter teams configured for ALB also provide the benefits of fault tolerance.

| NOTES: ALB does not load balance non-routed protocols such as NetBEUI and some IPX* traffic. You can create an ALB team with mixed speed adapters. The load is balanced according to the adapter's capabilities and the bandwidth of the channel.

## Switch Fault Tolerance

Switch Fault Tolerance (SFT) teaming allows you to connect each of two teamed adapters to a separate switch.

Switch Fault Tolerance can detect failures when they occur:

- On either teamed adapter

- On either cable connecting the teamed adapter to its switch

- On switch ports connected to the adapters, if link is lost

In SFT teams, one adapter is the primary adapter and one adapter is the secondary adapter. During normal operation, the secondary adapter is in standby. In standby, the adapter is inactive and waiting for failover to occur. It does not transmit or receive other network traffic. If the primary adapter loses connectivity, the secondary adapter automatically takes over.

In the SFT team type, each adapter in the team can operate at a different speed than the other.

## Multi-Vendor Teaming

Multi-Vendor Teaming (MVT) allows teaming with a combination of Intel and non-Intel adapters. If you are using a Windows-based computer, adapters that appear in the Intel® PROSet teaming wizard may be included in a team.

This feature is currently available under Linux, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008.

### MVT Design Considerations

- All members in a MVT must operate on a common feature set (lowest common denominator). To assure a common feature set, some advanced features, including hardware offloading, are automatically disabled when non-Intel adapters are team members.

- In order to activate MVT, you must have at least one Intel server adapter in the team, which must be designated as the primary adapter.

- A multi-vendor team can be created for any team type, but not for VLANs.

- Hot-adding non-Intel adapters to a team causes system instability. For this reason it is recommended that you restart the system or reload the team after hot-adding a non-Intel adapter to a team.

- You must manually verify that the frame setting for the non-Intel adapter matches that of the Intel adapters.

`Last modified on 12/11/07 3:40p Revision 13`