Server Load Balancing Techniques

HP NICs

Automatic

allows a ProLiant server to use the best network team type

possible, given current network and server configurations. It
enables the server to automatically select the best type of
failover team based on team member connections.

For example, when the teamed NICs are attached to a

switch, the software creates a Transmit Load Balancing
team. If those same NICs are instead connected to a switch
that supports dynamic link aggregation (802.3ad), the team
forms an aggregated link that supports both transmit and
receive load balancing.

Additionally, the Automatic Teaming feature helps the

ProLiant network remain adaptive to network and server
conditions. As network and server configurations change,
the Automatic Teaming type ensures that the customers'
servers connect to the network in the most efficient manner
possible. Automatic Teaming is a standard feature of HP
ProLiant Teaming.

802.3ad Dynamic

provides receive and transmit load balancing on a single

switch. In this team type, the team members negotiate with
the switch to automatically form a port group, so no
additional configuration is required on the switch. The switch
must support the IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregation Control
Protocol (LACP). 802.3ad Dynamic Teaming is a standard
feature of ProLiant teaming.

SLB (Switch-assisted Load Balancing)

provides receive and transmit load balancing on a single

switch and is functionally identical to 802.3ad Dynamic
Teaming. SLB requires the switch itself to be configured to
form a port group. The switch must support port aggregation,
but it does not need to support the IEEE 802.3ad Link
Aggregation Control Protocol. SLB is a standard feature of
ProLiant Teaming.

TLB (Transmit Load Balancing)

 balances the transmit traffic among the team members, but
does not require any special switch intelligence or
switch configuration. In addition, TLB teams can be split
across switches as long as all members are in the same
layer 2 network. In TLB teams, receive traffic is not load
balanced, but is received on a single team member. TLB is
a standard feature of ProLiant Teaming.

NFT (Network Fault Tolerant)

prevents network downtime by transferring the workload

from a failed port to a working port. Clients on the network
see no disruption of service, and the network can remain in
use while the failed component is repaired. NFT teaming
functions at any speed, on any media. It is switch-
independent and can be split across Layer 2 switches
but must be in the same Layer 2 domain. NFT is a standard
feature of ProLiant Teaming, and is available in all team
configurations.