Teaming is a set of Advanced Network Services (ANS) that are available when two or more adapters are configured to operate as a team.
Before you can set up adapter teaming in Windows*, you must install Intel® PROSet software.
For more information on setting up adapter teams and Intel PROSet software, see the links in the contents frame on the left.
Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT) - provides automatic redundancy for your server's network connection. If the primary adapter fails, the secondary adapter takes over. Adapter Fault Tolerance supports two to eight adapters per team. This teaming mode works with any hub or switch, and all team members must be connected to the same device.
Switch Fault Tolerance (SFT) - provides a failover relationship between two adapters when each adapter is connected to a separate switch. Switch Fault Tolerance supports two adapters per team. Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) must be enabled when you create a team in SFT mode. SFT is only available on computers running Windows NT* 4.0, Windows* XP, and Windows 2000. This teaming mode works with any switch.
Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB) - provides load balancing of transmit traffic and adapter fault tolerance. In Windows operating systems, you can also enable or disable receive load balancing (RLB) in ALB teams. This teaming mode works with any switch.
FEC*/Link Aggregation/802.3ad: static mode - provides increased transmission and reception throughput in a team of two to eight adapters operating at 100 Mbps. This mode also includes adapter fault tolerance and load balancing (only routed protocols). This teaming mode requires a switch with Intel's Link Aggregation or Cisco's FEC capability.
GEC/Link Aggregation/802.3ad: static mode - is the gigabit extension of the FEC/Link Aggregation/802.3ad: static mode. All team members must operate at gigabit speeds.
IEEE 802.3ad: dynamic mode - creates one or more teams using dynamic Link Aggregation with mixed-speed adapters. Like the static Link Aggregation modes, Dynamic 802.3ad teams increase transmission and reception throughput and provide fault tolerance. This teaming mode requires a switch that fully supports the IEEE 802.3ad standard.
Multi-Vendor Teaming (MVT) - adds the capability to include adapters from selected other vendors in a team. If you are using a Windows-based computer, you can team adapters that appear in Intel® PROSet.
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IMPORTANT: Be sure to use the latest available drivers on all adapters. |
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IMPORTANT: For optimal performance, you must disable the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) when using AFT, ALB, or FEC/GEC/802.3ad static mode teaming. |
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IMPORTANT: When you create a team, a virtual adapter instance is created. In Windows, the virtual adapter appears in both the Device Manager and Network and Dial-up Connections. Each virtual adapter instance appears as "Intel® Advanced Network Services Virtual Adapter." Do not attempt to modify (except to change protocol configuration) or remove these virtual adapter instances using Device Manager or Network and Dial-up Connections. Changing or removing virtual adapters might result in system anomalies, including blue screens. |
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IMPORTANT: 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 in Intel PROSet's Advanced Settings tab. Pay particular
attention when using different adapter models or adapter versions, as adapter
capabilities vary.
If team members implement Advanced features differently, failover and team functionality will be affected. To avoid team implementation issues:
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NOTE: Teaming is supported on Intel PRO/100 and PRO/1000 server adapters, and certain server-oriented models from other manufacturers. If you are using a Windows-based computer, adapters that appear in Intel® PROSet may be included in a team. Teaming is also supported on the Intel PRO/1000 T and MT Desktop Adapters if at least one server adapter is installed in the computer. |
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NOTE: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 does not support Plug and Play (PnP). Any change in network configuration requires a system reboot in order to take effect. Hot Add/Remove of an adapter to/from a team or VLAN is only available in Windows 2000 and XP. |
Teaming modes that do not require a switch with the same capabilities (AFT, SFT, ALB/RLB) use a primary adapter. In all of these modes except RLB, the primary is the only adapter that receives traffic.
If the primary adapter fails, another adapter will take over its duties. If you are using more than two adapters, and you want a specific adapter to take over if the primary fails, you must specify a secondary adapter.
There are two types of primary and secondary adapters:
To specify a preferred primary or secondary adapter
The adapter's preferred setting appears in the Priority column on Intel PROSet's Team Configuration tab. A "1" indicates a preferred primary adapter, and a "2" indicates a preferred secondary adapter.
Teaming options are supported on Intel PRO/100 and PRO/1000 server adapters, and on Intel desktop adapters if there is at least one server adapter installed. Selected adapters from other manufacturers are also supported. If you are using a Windows-based computer, adapters that appear in Intel PROSet may be included in a team.
Intel test labs found that:
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.
Adapter Fault Tolerance is implemented with a primary adapter and one or more backup, or secondary adapters. During normal operation, the backup adapters are in standby. If the link to the primary adapter fails, the link to the secondary adapter automatically takes over. For more information, see Primary and Secondary Adapters.
To use Adapter Fault Tolerance, you must have at least one Intel PRO/100 or one PRO/1000 server adapter in your team, and all adapters linked to the same switch or hub.
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NOTE: You can mix gigabit and 10/100 adapters in an AFT team. |
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 mode. 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 SFT mode, each adapter in the team can operate at a different speed than the other.
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NOTE: SFT is available on computers running Windows NT 4.0, 2000, and XP |
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 switch. On computers running Windows NT 4.0, 2000, and XP, 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.
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NOTE: ALB does not load balance non-routed protocols such as NetBEUI and some IPX* traffic. |
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NOTE: 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. |
Fast EtherChannel (FEC) is a performance technology developed by Cisco to increase throughput between switches. This mode works with:
Cisco FEC-capable switches using the PAgP protocol
Intel switches capable of Link Aggregation
Other switches capable of static 802.3ad
The transmission speed will never exceed the adapter base speed to any single address (per specification). Teams can contain 2 to 8 adapters, but must match the capability of the switch. Adapter teams configured for static Link Aggregation also provide the benefits of fault tolerance and load balancing. You do not need to set a primary in these modes.
Gigabit EtherChannel (GEC) is a performance technology developed by Cisco to increase throughput between switches. This mode works with:
Cisco GEC capable switches using the PAgP protocol
Intel switches capable of Link Aggregation
Other switches capable of static 802.3ad
The transmission speed will never exceed the adapter base speed to any single address (per specification). Teams may be from 2 to 8 adapters but must match the capability of the switch. Adapter teams configured for static Link Aggregation also provide the benefits of fault tolerance and load balancing. You do not need to set a primary in these modes.
802.3ad is an adopted IEEE standard. Teams can contain two to eight adapters, and you can have a maximum of two IEEE 802.3ad dynamic teams per server. You must use 802.3ad switches (in dynamic mode, aggregation can go across switches). Adapter teams configured for IEEE 802.3ad also provide the benefits of fault tolerance and load balancing. Under 802.3ad, all protocols can be load balanced.
Dynamic mode supports multiple aggregators, and they are formed either by different speeds on the same switch (teams based on speed) or by using multiple switches (provides some redundancy between switches). Only one team will be active at a time.
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NOTE: Once you choose an aggregator, it remains in force until all adapters in that aggregator lose link. |
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NOTE: In some switches, copper and fiber adapters cannot belong to the same aggregator in an IEEE 802.3ad configuration. If there are copper and fiber adapters installed in a system, the switch might configure the copper adapters in one aggregator and the fiber-based adapters in another. If you experience this behavior, for best performance you should use either copper or fiber-based adapters in a system. |
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If multiple switches are used, all team members connected to the same switch must operate at the same speed. |
MVT allows teaming with a combination of Intel and non-Intel adapters. This feature is currently available under Linux and Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, and XP).
If you are using a Windows-based computer, adapters that appear in Intel® PROSet can be included in a team.
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 mode, but not for VLANs.
All members in a MVT must operate on a common feature set (lowest common denominator).
Last modified on 9/10/02 1:26p Revision 8