kristin.
Level 2
(243 points)
Q: Do the IPs of the individual ports matter in an Ethernet Bond?
I'm planning on setting up an bonded ethernet interfaces on a couple Xserves and I'm wondering if the IP addresses of the individual ethernet ports matter? For example, in System Preferences > Network, the (virual, active) link aggregate/bonded interface is set to 10.0.0.10 and is made up of the physical Ethernet 1 and Ethernet 2 ports.
Also, in System Preferences > Network, Ethernet 1 and Ethernet 2 ports are greyed out and set as "inactive" (as they're part of the link aggregate/bonded interface). But, they have indivial IP addresses/network setting listed when you click on them. Do these network settings on the individual ports matter? What I mean is, if they're set to 10.0.0.1 and 10.0.0.2, would there be an IP conflict if another device on the network were set to one of the IP addresses? Or, are they really considered "inactive" and their individual network settings have no impact on the network (unless, of course, the link aggregate/bonded interface is intentionally broken/downgraded to individual interfaces)?
Thanks,
Kristin.
Elite Expert of all Knowledge
Level 1
(40 points)
No. It matters not. Bonding is happening at layer 2, so the IP is assigned only to the 'virtual' bonded interface. You need also at the other end of the bonded link to set it up, so that it is understood that the link is bonded by both ends of the connection.
