Configure link aggregates using APA (auto port aggregation) :Quick Guide

There are 2 Config files for APA:

/etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaconf
/etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaportconf

and one more for Network config 

/etc/rc.config.d/netconf

Note : We can configure the APA using NWMGR command utility also.

Load balancing policy

1.LB_MAC
2.LB_IP
3.LB_PORT

Protocol Types: 
 
Note: ROUTER and Switches should support APA.

1. FEC_AUTO – Cisco’s proprietary Fast EtherChannel (FEC/PAgP)   

        technology). This is NOT standard for all CISCO switches.
2.lACP_AUTO – IEEE 802.2ad link aggregation control protocol (LACP)
3. MANUAL configured port trunks (Default)


Steps to configure APA

Step 1.Choose the netwokr cards
Step 2.Choose the Protocol
Step 3.Edit the config file according to protocol
Step 4.start the apa
Step 5 : Assign a IP address
Step 6 : Verify the status



STEP 1: Which lan we can configure APA??

Link Speeds and Duplex settings should be the same.

#ioscan -fnkC lan       ## to determine available lans

each lan used in the aggregate must be disabled before starting APA.

# ifconfig lan(n) down
# ifconfig lan(n) unplumb


STEP 2 :If we paln to config LAN 1,2 edit the config file and modify like below

#vi /etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaconf

HP_APA_INTERFACE_NAME[0]=lan900
HP_APA_LOAD_BALANCE_MODE[0]=LB_MAC
HP_APA_MANUAL_LA[0]="1,2"<— lans 1, 2


Then Edit the hp_apaportconf file

#Vi /etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaportconf

HP_APAPORT_INTERFACE_NAME[0]=lan1
HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[0]=MANUAL
HP_APAPORT_INTERFACE_NAME[1]=lan2
HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[1]=MANUAL

STEP 3 : (modify the config files as per protocol which you have selected)

Mode 1 : FEC_AUTO Port Configuration Mode

If u choosed - FEC_AUTO Port Configuration Mode then modify the conf file like below

#vi /etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaconf

HP_APA_INTERFACE_NAME[0]=lan900
HP_APA_LOAD_BALANCE_MODE[0]=LB_MAC
HP_APA_GROUP_CAPABILITY[0]=900       <– Any integer value pointing to the physical ports in the hp_apaportconf


#vi /etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaportconf

HP_APAPORT_INTERFACE_NAME[0]=lan1
HP_APAPORT_GROUP_CAPABILITY[0]=900 <— must be the same value as in hp_apaconf
HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[0]=FEC_AUTO
HP_APAPORT_INTERFACE_NAME[1]=lan2
HP_APAPORT_GROUP_CAPABILITY[1]=900
HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[1]=FEC_AUTO


Mode 2 : LACP_AUTO Port Configuration Mode

If u choosed - LACP_AUTO Port Configuration Mode then modify the conf file like below

#vi /etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaconf

HP_APA_INTERFACE_NAME[0]=lan900
HP_APA_LOAD_BALANCE_MODE[0]=LB_MAC
HP_APA_KEY[0]=900            <— an integer value pointing to the physical ports in hp_apaportconf


#vi  /etc/rc.config.d/hp_apaportconf
HP_APAPORT_INTERFACE_NAME[0]=lan1
HP_APAPORT_KEY[0]=900             < — must be the same value as HP_APA_KEY in hp_apaconf
HP_APAPORT_CONFIG_MODE[1]=LACP_AUTO
HP_APAPORT_INTERFACE_NAME[1]=lan2

STEP 4 : To stop/start the new configuration  (APA doesn’t require a reboot to take effect)

/sbin/init.d/hpapa stop
/sbin/init.d/hpapa start

STEP 5 : Assign an ipaddress to lan900.

# ifconfig lan900 ipaddress netmask netmaskaddress
# ifconfig lan900                 # to check
# modify /etc/rc.config.d/netconf      ##to make the ipaddress permanent

STEP 6 :Verify the status of the link aggregate

# lanadmin -x -v 900           ## will show the number of ports, state, mode
# lanscan -v                              ## verify which link aggregates have been configured.
# lanadmin –x –p 2 900      ## verify the status of a particular port.