Hi allIn reference to this post: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Managed-Switches/XS728T-problem-802-3ad-LAG-LACP-only-one-direction-full/m-p/1079353/highlight/true#M1786I have the same problem with the GS516T that i‘ve buyed today.Cisco supports those hashing configurations:- src-mac — Source MAC addresses- dst-mac — Destination MAC addresses- src-dst-mac — Source and destination MAC addresses- src-ip — Source IP addresses- dst-ip — Destination IP addresses- src-dst-ip — Source and destination IP addresses (Default)- src-port — Source Layer 4 port- dst-port — Destination Layer 4 port- src-dst-port — Source and destination Layer 4 portThe described issue tells me, that Netgear only works with the destination MAC but normally you will need, at least, Source and destination MAC addresses to make LACP work bidirectionally.What configuration options do i have? If none (as expected), does netgear release an updated firmware? If not; i wasted 300$ and can throw that switch into garbage.Best regardsTom

Hi community,After having a longer talk with the Netgear support; It's obvious that the switch only supports IEEE 802.3ad with destination MAC address hashing; so therefoe you/me/all only have unidirectional load balancing.Unforantetly there is no information about this limitation (or even possibilities) in the datasheet. Unfortunately there is no effort to fix/change this hardcoded behaviour within the firmware (they redirect me to the more expensive product lines of Netgear - so that is maybe a marketing descision not to support bi-directional load balancing). There is no possiblity that Netgear takes the switch back; so there is no money-back-guarantee. Have a great day Tom

Retired_Member wrote:Cisco supports those hashing configurations: Cisco does offer Mac and MAC/IP up to the Cisco 550X Series Stackable Managed Switches class - that's the counterpart to Netgear's top-of-the-line stackable switches - and does leave any further details open, too: Retired_Member wrote:I have the same problem with the GS516T that i‘ve buyed today. That would be an almost 20 year old switch - so a GS516TP probably.What is the exact use and test case in your deployment?

Can't speak for the GS516TP (no such device here) - when pushing data from multiple systems [so different source MAC] to an IP address (QTS NAS here) served by a teo or more LACP LAGs operated on various similar switches like the mentioned XS728T/XS748T (v6.5.1.36) or an MS510TX (v6.7.0.37) we find the upload traffic flowing over multiple members of the port channel - so the impression is there is (at least) a src-dst-mac hash used.

As far as i understand; in case you want to be able to configure the hashing algorythms for LACP (regardless if L2 or L3) you have to go by the M-Series. Check: Usermanual Page 200 - there is a screenshot of the configuration options available.The GS Series seems to be for amateurs only when it comes to LACP - senselessly castrated from software perspective, because the hardware is fast as hell.This are L2 options:- src-mac — Source MAC addresses- dst-mac — Destination MAC addresses- src-dst-mac — Source and destination MAC addressesThis are L3 options:- src-ip — Source IP addresses- dst-ip — Destination IP addresses- src-dst-ip — Source and destination IP addresses (Default)This are L4 options:- src-port — Source Layer 4 port- dst-port — Destination Layer 4 port- src-dst-port — Source and destination Layer 4 portOn the Cisco boxes you can connect to it by using SSH and then you can configure the exact settings by using the CLI.Conclusion: What a brain releases a switch that is doing dst-mac only; that just angers the customers. Support it properly or leave it is my suggestion.

Retired_Member wrote: As far as i understand; in case you want to be able to configure the hashing algorythms for LACP (regardless if L2 or L3) you have to go by the M-Series. This might be correct, however, this is not the subject here. We're operating a reasonable number of Smart Managed Pro with LACP trunks for switch interconnections as well as for servers, storage, and high performance workstations .. and don't experience the same issue. There are some very specific use case where L3 and more L4 hashing can bring an advantage - but there are not that many. There are a few limitations in the implementation, undoubted, ... the perfomance and the cost-per-port comes at a price. The same applies by the way when we go one "class" below, the Smart Managed Plus units which are selling at a fraction of the per-port price, and some people expect at least enterprise if not data center feature sets. Last but not least, there might be a bug, too. You still have not shown us your use case, the deployment, and the exact test scenario leading to this issue.

GS516T problem 802.3ad LAG/LACP - only one direction full bandwidth

13 Replies

Retired_Member
May 09, 2019
Hi community,

After having a longer talk with the Netgear support;

It's obvious that the switch only supports IEEE 802.3ad with destination MAC address hashing; so therefoe you/me/all only have unidirectional load balancing.Unforantetly there is no information about this limitation (or even possibilities) in the datasheet. Unfortunately there is no effort to fix/change this hardcoded behaviour within the firmware (they redirect me to the more expensive product lines of Netgear - so that is maybe a marketing descision not to support bi-directional load balancing). There is no possiblity that Netgear takes the switch back; so there is no money-back-guarantee.

Have a great day
Tom
- schumaku
  Guru - Experienced User
  May 09, 2019
  Retired_Member wrote:
  Cisco supports those hashing configurations:
  
  Cisco does offer Mac and MAC/IP up to the Cisco 550X Series Stackable Managed Switches class - that's the counterpart to Netgear's top-of-the-line stackable switches - and does leave any further details open, too:
  
  Retired_Member wrote:
  I have the same problem with the GS516T that i‘ve buyed today.
  
  That would be an almost 20 year old switch - so a GS516TP probably.
  
  What is the exact use and test case in your deployment?
  - schumaku
    Guru - Experienced User
    May 09, 2019
    Can't speak for the GS516TP (no such device here) - when pushing data from multiple systems [so different source MAC] to an IP address (QTS NAS here) served by a teo or more LACP LAGs operated on various similar switches like the mentioned XS728T/XS748T (v6.5.1.36) or an MS510TX (v6.7.0.37) we find the upload traffic flowing over multiple members of the port channel - so the impression is there is (at least) a src-dst-mac hash used.

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GS516T problem 802.3ad LAG/LACP - only one direction full bandwidth

13 Replies

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