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  3. October 2018

RE: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd Eternet Switch for Load balancing/fail over

The only con I can think of is if the owning partition has to restart, then
communications for all the others go away as well. Then again if I remember
it, you have IBM i hosting IBM i . If the hosting machine is the one owning
the Ethernet, then I don't see a downside.

I've built most of my IBM i hosting IBM i just that way with Ethernet
failover etc. Older techniques allow some of this but the new AGG function
makes it easier.

--
Jim Oberholtzer
Agile Technology Architects

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Steinmetz,
Paul
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2018 9:37 AM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion' <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd Eternet Switch
for Load balancing/fail over

Larry,

I only have a few LPARS, an no VIOS.
So with this new Ethernet AGG config option, I'm rethinking my overall
Ethernet configuration.
Instead of having each LPAR have its own 5899, which I've done in the past,
I'd have my main LPAR own all 3 5899, then Ethernet bridge to the other
LPARS as needed.
Any Pros/Cons on this?

Question,
Are there any reasons why an LPAR should/must have its own physical
Ethernet?

It's been years since I configured the bridge.
Reviewing the Ethernet bridge configuration.
Looking at my current config, I see you can only assign one resource for
the bridge, CMN10 in this case.
That resource is a virtual resource, CMN10 268C.
Question,
So no actual physical resources are required for the bridge, is this
correct?

Line description . . . . . . . . . : ETHBRIDGE
Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : *BASIC
Category of line . . . . . . . . . : *ELAN

Resource name . . . . . . . . . . : CMN10
Bridge identifier . . . . . . . . : BRIDGE1

Looking back at my old notes, I found IBM tech doc N1011193 - Ethernet
Bridging Between IBM i Host and IBM i Guest.

There is a statement within this that raises some concerns.

Important Note: IBM suggests that the selected Ethernet resources be used
for only layer-2 bridging and not for IBM i TCP/IP configuration. There is a
significant increase in processor usage for any host traffic that uses
bridged resources. In addition, any line description that is used for
bridging receives many frames that are not useful to the TCP/IP stack. These
frames use unnecessary processing resources. The virtual Ethernet line on
the host does not require an interface. You only need the physical and
virtual lines active for the bridge function to work. You should not have an
interface on the physical line used for the bridge either. Create a separate
physical line & interface for network traffic on the Host.

So what is IBM exactly stating here?

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
DrFranken
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2018 9:14 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd Eternet Switch
for Load balancing/fail over

Absolutely and another thing I recommend. It gives some additional
throughput as well as redundancy for those hosted LPARs.

- Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis

www.Frankeni.com
www.iDevCloud.com - Personal Development IBM i timeshare service.
www.iInTheCloud.com - Commercial IBM i Cloud Hosting.

On 10/19/2018 9:06 AM, Steinmetz, Paul wrote:
Larry,

Can the ETHAGG line also be bridged for use on another LPAR.

Years back I created a Ethernet bridge for my Ethernet on one my sandbox
LPARS.

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
DrFranken
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2018 8:58 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd Eternet
Switch for Load balancing/fail over

YES and I recommend this. The limit is 8 ports aggregated and in
theory those could be from two to eight physical cards. Of course
eight is a lot of switch ports to chew up!!

- Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis

www.Frankeni.com
www.iDevCloud.com - Personal Development IBM i timeshare service.
www.iInTheCloud.com - Commercial IBM i Cloud Hosting.

On 10/19/2018 8:32 AM, Steinmetz, Paul wrote:
Larry,

Thanks for the additional info.

Another question.
If I had a 2nd 5899, could I include some or all of those resources as
part of the line description.
This would provide a higher level of protection.
If the entire 5899 would fail, the 2nd 5899 would keep everything up and
running.

CRTLINETH LIND(ETHAGG) RSRCNAME(*AGG) AGGPCY(*LNKAGG *DFT)
AGGRSCL(CMN02 CMN03 CMN10 CMN11)

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of DrFranken
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2018 9:45 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd Eternet
Switch for Load balancing/fail over

You are correct that this support was enabled in TR3 though LACP
wasn't supported until a later TR (TR7) which hopefully every one already
has!!!

You should choose *LNKAGG if your switches support that. This is a
more standard implementation while *ETHCHL was a Cisco only spec that
some other manufacturers did support.

For the policy that's an 'It Depends' question as this is what
determines which link in the bundle to send the packets across.
Consider that with a single connection between IBM i and another
device, such as each file during an FTP session, only 1 link of the
bundle is used. This simply determines which of the links is chosen for
each connection.

If you have a lot of connections (e.g. many users) then I recommend
leaving the default of *DFT there. Second choice would be *SRCDESTP.

Do note that in this thread there has been discussion about vPC/vLAGG
(Virtual Port Channel/Virtual Link Agg). This is not supported in
very many switches in my experience but more importantly I have never
been able to make it work from IBM i to a switch pair that DOES support
it.
IN THEORY it should work as there isn't any config required on the
downstream (which would be IBM i) Side.

- Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis

www.Frankeni.com
www.iDevCloud.com - Personal Development IBM i timeshare service.
www.iInTheCloud.com - Commercial IBM i Cloud Hosting.

On 10/18/2018 8:52 AM, Steinmetz, Paul wrote:
First of all, thanks to everyone for all the tips and links.

I did some research.
Ethernet Link Aggregation was announced 10/14/2011 V7R1 TR3.
This is why it is missing from most of the "older" links on TCP/IP load
balancing/fail over.
Also referencing link by Dawn May,
http://ibmsystemsmag.com/blogs/i-can/archive/ethernet-link-aggregati
on-in-ibm-i/

"In short, Ethernet Link Aggregation lets 7.1 TR3 users make better use
of their Ethernet resources, potentially improving the reliability and
performance of their network workloads without purchasing any additional
hardware."

ELA is probably the simplest, easiest, quickest to implement.

From Dawn's example,
CRTLINETH LIND(ETHAGG) RSRCNAME(*AGG) AGGPCY(*ETHCHL *SRCDESTP)
AGGRSCL(CMN02 CMN03)

Questions.

1) Our proposed switch will be Cisco Catalyst 6506-E Do I have
options on the Cisco or must LACP be used?

2) Should AGGPCY be set to *ETHCHL or *LNKAGG?
Based on the one link, I'm thinking *LNKAGG
IBM(r) i Link Aggregation supports static aggregation (*ETHCHL) with any
link partner, and supports LACP (*LNKAGG) with Cisco and IBM Networking
switches. Other LACP-capable link partners might work, but are not
officially supported.

*ETHCHL
Specifies to use Etherchannel technology to allow
several Ethernet adapters to be aggregated together to
form a single psuedo Ethernet device.
*LNKAGG
Specifies to use IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregation
technology to allow several Ethernet adapters to be
aggregated together to form a single psuedo Ethernet
device.

3) What should Policy type be set to? *DFT, *SRCPORT, *DESTPORT,
*SRCDESTP, *RNDRBN *DFT
The adapter selection algorithm uses the last byte of the
Destination IP address (for TCP/IP traffic) or MAC address (for
ARP
and other non-IP traffic). This mode is typically the best
initial
choice for a server with a large number of clients.
*SRCPORT
The adapter selection algorithm uses the source TCP/IP or UDP
port
value.
*DESTPORT
The outgoing adapter path is selected via an algorithm using the
destination TCP/IP or UDP port value.
*SRCDESTP
The outgoing adapter path is selected via an algorithm using the
combined source and destination TCP or UDP port values.
*RNDRBN
Outgoing traffic is spread evenly across all the adapter ports in
the Etherchannel. This mode is the typical choice for two host
connected back-to-back (i.e. without a intervening switch).

Paul






-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Steinmetz, Paul
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2018 2:46 PM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
Subject: RE: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd Eternet
Switch for Load balancing/fail over

Jim,

The solution you sent in the first link appears the simplest/easiest.
Ethernet Link Aggregation - Link Aggregation binds several full-duplex
Ethernet links running at the same speed together into one logical link with
a single Media Access Control (MAC) address.
One interface, One line description with multiple resources.

I'm not seeing that solution as part of the 2nd link starting at page
25.
Is this a "newer" solution, possibly not included with some of the older
docs.

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Jim Oberholtzer
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2018 2:31 PM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
Subject: RE: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd Eternet
Switch for Load balancing/fail over

Rob:

VIOS is by far and away the best way to virtualize Ethernet and
provide for failover/load balancing. That said I don't think Paul has
that environment.


Paul:

As someone pointed out VIPA might fit the situation as well. Here's a
document that explains all:

https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/ssw_ibm_i_72/rzajw/rzajw
pdf.pdf

Start on about page 25. It'll talk about workload balancing and
then next scenario is failover.

I find VIPA to be confusing to most folks, particularly the non IBM
i network administrator that will most likely understand what your
trying to do but then not be helpful in the end since it's not
Microsoft/Cisco.


--
Jim Oberholtzer
Agile Technology Architects


-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Rob Berendt
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2018 1:21 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd Eternet
Switch for Load balancing/fail over

We use two VIOS lpars. One controls one ethernet card and the other
controls the other. They both go to different switches.
I'm so damned confident of this solution that I've upgraded VIOS
during the middle of the day. Of course when you use the same
solution on three Power systems and you test it out on the sandbox
machine first it helps.


Rob Berendt
--
IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1 Group Dekko Dept 1600
Mail
to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com





From: "Steinmetz, Paul" <PSteinmetz@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'"
<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 10/16/2018 02:13 PM
Subject: RE: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd
Eternet
Switch for Load balancing/fail over
Sent by: "MIDRANGE-L" <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx>



Jim,

https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/ssw_ibm_i_73/rzajy/rz
ajylinka
gg.htm


Thanks for that link.
The diagram was very helpful.
So only one interface and line description are used.
No changes to the interface, only to the line description.

AGGPCY (Aggregate policy) would be set to either *ETHCHL or
*LNKAGG (Not sure which method at this point) AGGRSCL (Aggregated
resource list) would contain the resource names CMN01, CMN02.

One key question.
The link prerequisites states that this solution is only valid
everything is going to one/same switch.
" All of the ports must be connected to the same link partner (switch)."
My intended solution is going to a 2nd switch.

Is there a different configuration if a 2nd switch is involved?

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Jim Oberholtzer
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2018 12:07 PM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
Subject: RE: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd Eternet
Switch for Load balancing/fail over

https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/ssw_ibm_i_73/rzajy/rz
ajylinka
gg.htm






--
Jim Oberholtzer
Agile Technology Architects


-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Steinmetz, Paul
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2018 10:54 AM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: How to configure a 2nd Enthernet port to a 2nd Eternet
Switch for Load balancing/fail over

I'm looking for a resource (pdf/link) on how to configure a 2nd
Ethernet port to a 2nd Ethernet Switch for Load balancing/fail over.
The goal is to provide a higher level of redundancy for if either
the 5899 PCI port or the Ethernet switch would fail.
The 2nd port would be connected to a 2nd switch.

I need the details for both the Interface and line description, and
any other TCP/IP config changes (default routes, static routes,
etc), if needed.

Thank You
_____
Paul Steinmetz
IBM i Systems Administrator

Pencor Services, Inc.
462 Delaware Ave
Palmerton Pa 18071

610-826-9117 work
610-826-9188 fax
610-349-0913 cell
610-377-6012 home

psteinmetz@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pencor.com/


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