Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

link aggregation - netgear gs748T

We are trying to set up link aggregation between 2 ethernet interfaces on our MacPro Tiger Server and our Netgear GS748T switch. We successfully created the link but under status we get "no partner" for each of the bonded interfaces...

the switch is supposed to support 802.3ad "Manual" So I have enabled trunking on the two ports that the server is plugged into per netgear's instructions. Both ports show up with full 1000 connections so they are getting good connections presumably...

does anyone have any experience doing a link with this switch or family of switches? any tips?

thx

Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Oct 23, 2006 2:10 PM

Reply
30 replies

Dec 14, 2006 9:49 PM in response to Austin Sloat

Did you ever get this working?
I am also having problems with Link Aggregation on a Mac Pro running 10.4.8 OS X Server. I'm connecting to a D-Link DGS-3224TGR. The Switch has the LACP active on both ports of the trunk and the Ports are grouped, enabled and LACP. When both en0 & en1 are connected they show green in the network status but i have no real connectivity beyond the switch. I can connect to the web-GUI of the switch. I'm going to post my own topic but wanted to hear if this one was resolved.

Dec 15, 2006 11:03 AM in response to Michael Ojaste

we have the same problem:
- Link Aggregation works on the XServe with a D-Link DGS 1224T Switch
- it doens´t work on the MacPro green lights but no real connection (it is impossible to connect the MacPro and the XServe both using Link Aggregation - even with cross over cables
- the Mac adress is the same on en0, en1 and bond0 on the XServe ( sign of working link aggregation )
- the Mac adresses are different on the MacPro -enabled and configured Link Aggregation but not working

is ther anybody who knows how to solve this issue ?

thanks ullrich

Dec 15, 2006 12:43 PM in response to Austin Sloat

Leif i think he just ment he tried X-overs but he made one point which we need to explore. The MAC address i believe he is trying to say on a Mac Pro of en0 & en1 are different. I have the same thing. He seem to claim that on an XServer en0 & en1 have the same IP of course but ALSO the Same MAC address. This could be the key we are looking for.

Does anyone know how to spoof the en1 MAC address to the same as en0?
Any experts on netstat and route CLI's?

Also maybe we can move this to my new topic.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=772179&tstart=0

Jan 12, 2007 10:10 AM in response to Austin Sloat

Hi

In response to the inital question about the Netgear GS748T - I had the same problem with the 24-port version (GS724T). I came to the (unfortunate) conclusion that this switch does NOT support the 802.3ad protocol - this protocol isn't listed on the Specifications page on Netgear's website. Austin, where did you find the bit about it supporting "manual" 802.3ad?

I tried everything I could (including variously activating or not activating the trunking on the switch - one web page indicated to keep trunking off on the switch). This is a bummer since the next step up is a Layer 2 switch which is twice as expensive...

Jan 13, 2007 4:37 AM in response to Austin Sloat

Ok Apple Engineers have confirmed the problem and it will hopefully "be fixed in a future update" we hope.
It is an Intel based system problem they did not say if it's hardware/firmware issue or software. I would think hardware/firmware fix needed since they offered no way to do a CLI fix but we will see.
So those ethernet interfaces on Intel Xserve or Mac Pro can not be aggregated, "it not my fault" as Apple speech would say, Argh.

Jan 16, 2007 2:14 PM in response to RadUS

RadUS, just to let you know Apple told me this issue is effecting both lines of Intel hardware not just the MacPro so in your case I'm not sure how you got it to work. The Intel chip-set for the ethernet controller does not seem to configure the MAC address correctly. This was all confirmed by Apple. If you Appear to have a Working link aggregation on an Intel Xserve I would ask you to unplug en0 from the switch and see if en1 still functions as it should if it is truly setup right as link aggregation.

Jan 17, 2007 4:14 AM in response to Michael Ojaste

Hello Michael,
one ethernet unpluged - and it works like it should - without any problem (ping and DICOM Connectivity).
There is also the same Ethernet "adress" 00:00:00:00:00:00 for en0 and en1 in $ ifconfig.

I could not get it to on a MacPro but it works in a production environment on the XServe Intel (MacOS 10.4.8 and 10.4.9 developer).

Ullrich

Feb 26, 2007 8:30 AM in response to Michael Ojaste

Same issue here. No link aggregation works when connecting both ethernet ports to a Netgear GS748T. Part of ifconfig's output shows that line:

partner system: 0x0000,00:00:00:00:00:00 key: 0x0000 port: 0x0000 priority: 0x0000 state: 0x00

All these "0" in that line bode ill. I think that behind partner system there should be a valid ethernet address?

Feb 27, 2007 4:37 PM in response to Jomel1

Same issue here. No link aggregation works when
connecting both ethernet ports to a Netgear GS748T.
Part of ifconfig's output shows that line:

partner system: 0x0000,00:00:00:00:00:00 key: 0x0000
port: 0x0000 priority: 0x0000 state: 0x00

All these "0" in that line bode ill. I think that
behind partner system there should be a valid
ethernet address?


Jomel I really tend to believe your problem is how you switch is setup. RadUS posted that he was able to get it working on an Xserve and in the other post you made you said that System Pref:Network showed switch problem. The problem we have is with the Mac Pro Intel and it "says the switch is fine". The thing is it does not set the en0 & en1 MAC addresses correctly.
On the NetGear I would look at a few things.
1. Make sure LACP is set On and to "Passive" on the Ports for link aggregation.
2. DO NOT have any "Trunking" active. Apple does not do trunks.
3. The Switch should not really have any defined trunk or Link aggregation because LACP should handle it automatically. I have heard 2 sides to this and some switches need some defined setup for aggregation to work with Apple OS. According to Apple, aggregation should be controlled wholly by the OS through LACP.
4. Maybe the NetGear is incompatable with Apple link aggregation. Look to see if the firmware is up-to-date on the Netgear switch.

RadUS might be able to help you since he got this working on an Xserve.

Feb 28, 2007 4:24 AM in response to Michael Ojaste

The configuration of the switch cannot be the problem. In the technical papers there is noted that the switch supports link aggregation by using 802.3ad (using manual mode). The only option is to activate a trunk for specific groups of ports. There is no other place to configure or alter that behaviour. The firmware of the switch is the most recent version.

I tried both to create a link aggregation by activating the trunk on the switch and by leaving that option off. Both ways had the same result that the status of the network panel displayed an amber condition and "problem with partner" message.
Also that netgear uses the term "trunk" netgear support said that they use it as an equivalent to link aggregation so this should be correct.

Mar 2, 2007 5:45 PM in response to Jomel1

From IEEE: http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/download/802.3-2005_section3.pdf
43.3.1 Characteristics of Link Aggregation Control
Link Aggregation Control provides a configuration capability that is
a)
Automatic.
In the absence of manual override controls, an appropriate set of Link Aggregation
Groups is automatically configured, and individual links are allocated to those groups. If a set of
links can aggregate, they do aggregate.

GS748T manual:
Port Trunking - Manual as per IEEE802.3ad Link Aggregation

I believe the apple is looking for "Automatic" LACP switch. So I would venture to say the Netgear GS748T does not work with Apple's use of LACP.

link aggregation - netgear gs748T

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.