I am planning to expand from 2 nodes to 5 nodes. This results in the need for more switches to accommodate the 3 NICs per node. They will be all D-Link Smart Managed switches with 1 being a 24 port the second being a 16 and the last being an 8 port. My question is if I connect each of these switches to the router and then link 2 ports on each switch to connect to the other 2 (4 ports dedicated on each switch, 2 to each other switch), will this create any problems or loop-backs. I use only static IP addresses for everything. My hope is that It allows for some redundancy in the system if the link between a switch and the router is lost.
System Upgrades...Networking Question.
- Thread starter lilCDNnrg
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That will technically cause a loop back on a bog standard switch, if you switch supports spanning tree and can be enabled this will handle such setups and allow for the HA/Redundancy of multiple connections, you will also want to setup each of the 2 connections into a LACP/BOND, instead of just two access ports.
I did some searching and they say that both the 16 and 24 port switches support it but when I login to the switch I do not show support for Spanning Tree, I then assume that if it is not available on all the switches that it will not work. Also I assume when you say LACP/BOND that is the same as trunking the ports together to increase bandwidth.
I did some searching and they say that both the 16 and 24 port switches support it but when I login to the switch I do not show support for Spanning Tree, I then assume that if it is not available on all the switches that it will not work. Also I assume when you say LACP/BOND that is the same as trunking the ports together to increase bandwidth.
Correct, which allows the switch to better manage the two links connecting the same source & destination, and is also designed for HA/Reliability and not just the pooling of capacity.
LACP/Bonding is also called LAG among a myriad of other terms so D-Link may have called it something else. Don't call it trunking as that relates to a trunk port (which you will most probably actualy want) which carries multiple VLANs.
If the 8 port does not support STP then I'd probably not use it. Get another with STP support if you need another.
If the 8 port does not support STP then I'd probably not use it. Get another with STP support if you need another.
So I have check the documentation around port trunking and is explains is as:
Trunking function allows the switch to combine two or four ports together to increase bandwidth.
I also see this reference to loopback detection:
The Loopback Detection function is used to detect the loop created by a specific port while Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is not enabled in the network, especially when the down links are hubs or unmanaged switches. The Switch will automatically shut down the port. The Loopback Detection port will be unlocked when the Loopback Detection Recover Time times out. The Loopback Detection function can be implemented on a range of ports at a time.
Would this work in place of spanning tree? Also my router does not support spanning tree either.
Trunking function allows the switch to combine two or four ports together to increase bandwidth.
I also see this reference to loopback detection:
The Loopback Detection function is used to detect the loop created by a specific port while Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is not enabled in the network, especially when the down links are hubs or unmanaged switches. The Switch will automatically shut down the port. The Loopback Detection port will be unlocked when the Loopback Detection Recover Time times out. The Loopback Detection function can be implemented on a range of ports at a time.
Would this work in place of spanning tree? Also my router does not support spanning tree either.
That is pretty much what STP does, loop prevention. I suppose as long as you're using the same vendor on your switches and they support the same protocol it should be ok. Spanning tree is only Layer2, a router only has one connection to a VLAN so doesnt have a need for STP.
It sounds like D-Link have incorrectly named their bond/LAG technology. Just bear in mind with LAG, 1gig+1gig !=2gig. Its more for redundancy but for the more hosts you have the more useful it is as it will give you more than 1gig throughput.
It sounds like D-Link have incorrectly named their bond/LAG technology. Just bear in mind with LAG, 1gig+1gig !=2gig. Its more for redundancy but for the more hosts you have the more useful it is as it will give you more than 1gig throughput.