Link Aggregation, 10.4.8 Server, D-Link problems.

I am 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 only. (Before you point fingers at the switch) I can unplug en1 and all begins to work well but if I reconnect en1 I get green lights on both, but still no connectivity beyond switch. If I unplug en0 and leave en1 in it still will not work. As long as only en0 is connected to port 1 OR port 2 of the trunk it works. Once en1 is plugged in or en1 alone, it does not work.
BTW i am setting a static ip for bond0.

One other note as I test en1 solo to the switch. There was a previous post concerning Link Aggregation and the person found no real fix but mentioned ports on the Mac going to 6.5.6.0 as the ip. He seemed to believe the problem was in the switch but I was setting up en1 with the servers ip and en0 shows this 6.5.6.0 address, hmm.

Anyone with info on any special settings needed on the d-link switch or any settings for other switchs related to this please post. I realy believe the problem to be OS X related but ...

Mac Pro 2 x 2.66Ghz intel 2006, Mac OS X (10.4.8), ATTO SCSI320 2CH, Highpoint 2322 SATA 2 RAID

Posted on Dec 14, 2006 9:58 PM

20 replies

Jan 16, 2007 1:56 PM in response to davidh

Not gonna get into a ******* match about Network hardware. Cisco, Nortel, Adtran, HP, and 3-Com are most likely the top 5 of quality high-end hardware. If you don't wanna spend that kind of cash and a high learning curve to even use some of those brands. D-Link, NetGear, Asante, Belkin offer some nice options of good stuff and low learning curve if any, lol.
I like D-link for good customer support and have had little to no problems with a large amount of there products (Managed Switches, NIC's, Wireless Routers, etc.)
As far as what we are talking about now The DGR Switch required a firmware update to address some issues but Link Aggregation works with older apple hardware just fine OS 10.3 and up. I tested it and had no problem with a Dual G5 and 2 Apple NIC's.
The issue of Link Aggregation & Intel Based - Mac Pro/Xserve built-in Ethernet Ports is Apple says the hardware qualifies to do Link Aggregation but on these units at this time it will not work. Another XServe user confirmed the issue with me in a post.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=3745843#3745843
I also have now heard from Apple and this is THERE issue. No, and, ifs or buts about it.

Feb 2, 2007 5:31 PM in response to Michael Ojaste

Anything new? I was just thinking, if this is an Apple Server problem, wouldn't it exhibit itself on the other switches, such as HPs etc? Or, is this just a problem with D-link? I need to get a switch soon and link aggregation is important to me. But, I hate to pay the HP / Cisco prices. Doesn't seem right...

Feb 3, 2007 1:15 AM in response to Jack Zahran1

The Problem is with the Mac Pro Intel not the switch. There is conflicting reports if the problem effects the Dual Ethernet Ports on the XServe Intel. Form all the reach and testing I did the problem is with the MAC address of en0 & en1 not being reconfigured properly to a new unique/same MAC address. In order for Link Aggregation to work both en0 & en1 must spoof the same MAC Address. For some reason either the OS is making the change the wrong way or the Intel controller chipset is preventing the change. So far I have no work around and have no Link Aggregation till Apple fixes it.

Feb 3, 2007 8:00 PM in response to Michael Ojaste

Yes, I realized after I posted, this may not effect the Xserve. For me, its more important that the server has it.

Feb 6, 2007 8:05 AM in response to Jack Zahran1

For me, its more important that the
server has it.

Both your Switch and Server must support 802.3ad Link Aggregation or it will not work. In this case both do support it but with the Mac Pro Intel there is a config problem with the built-in ethernet ports.

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Link Aggregation, 10.4.8 Server, D-Link problems.