IBM Token-Ring Adapter Features

Load Balancing and Failover

This chapter describes the Load Balancing and Failover (LBFO) feature.

Supported environments

Load Balancing and Failover (LBFO) is currently supported on the following adapters:

• IBM High-Speed 100/16/4 Token-Ring PCI Management Adapter
• IBM 16/4 Token-Ring PCI Management Adapter
• IBM 16/4 Token-Ring PCI Adapter 2
• IBM 16/4 Token-Ring PCI Adapter 2 with Wake on LAN
• IBM High-Speed 100/16/4 Token-Ring PCI Adapter
• IBM PCI Token-Ring Adapter
• IBM PCI Wake on LAN Token-Ring Adapter

The following operating environment is supported:

• Windows 2000

Note:

LBFO is independent of Redundant NIC, which is described in Redundant NIC

Overview

The Load Balancing Failover (LBFO) function provides a high-availability solution for your Windows 2000 server. This function improves network traffic flow by load-balancing the output of two or more PCI adapters as well as automatically rerouting network traffic around a failed adapter.

LBFO allows you to assign your PCI adapters to logical groupings or "bundles". LBFO balances the output load of the bundle across all the adapters assigned to that bundle.

In the event of an adapter failure (cable fault or a hard error), LBFO reroutes the bundle's traffic to the remaining functional adapters within that bundle.

In many cases, the failover to the other adapters in the bundle will occur seamlessly. Due to the failover latency involved in some protocols, some sessions might need to be reestablished. In either case, network connectivity is maintained and server downtime is avoided.

Benefits

The LBFO function provides a high-availability, high-throughput solution for your token-ring connected servers. The goal of LBFO is to maintain network connectivity in the event of an adapter failure as well as maximizing the output bandwidth across a group of adapters.

Installation and initial configuration

Follow these instructions to install LBFO support.

1. Select My Network Places on the Windows 2000 desktop.
2. Select Network and Dial-up Connections to display the Network and Dial-up Connections window.
3. Right click on a Local Area Connection.

   Note:

   You might need to refresh this window if you recently added an adapter.

4. Select Properties.
5. Select Install....
6. In the Select Network Component Type window, select Service and then select Add... (or double-click Service).
7. In the Select Network Service window, select Have Disk....
8. If you are installing from a diskette, insert the diskette. If you are installing from a location on your hard drive, specify the location of the service.
9. Click OKto continue.
10. Select IBM Token-Ring Load Balancing and Failover Support in the Network Services list, then select OK (or double-click the service).
11. In the Local Area Connection Properties window, select IBM Token-Ring Load Balancing and Failover Support in the components list, then select Properties (or double-click the service name).
12. By default, the Bundle ID parameter is blank. This means that this adapter is not bundled with any other adapters. To associate this adapter with a bundle, enter a bundle name in the Bundle ID parameter field. Any other adapters with that same bundle identifier will be part of this adapter's bundle.
13. Select OK.
14. In the Local Area Connection Properties panel, select OK
15. If you want to bundle additional adapters, repeat Step 3 and Step 4, and then Steps 11 through 14.

LBFO usage tips

• All adapters in an LBFO bundle should be configured similarly for parameters defined on the adapter's advanced tab such as ring speed, max transmits, and so on.
• All protocols bound to all adapters in an LBFO bundle should be configured similarly for parameters such as host name, IP address, and so on.
• During installation, you might receive multiple warnings about the LBFO driver not being digitally signed. This is caused by Win2000 when it binds multiple instances of the LBFO driver and is not an error. If you do not want to receive these messages, you can disable digital signature checking on the system. For information on disabling signature checking, refer to the Windows 2000 documentation.
• A bundle is created anytime a non-empty string is entered into the "Bundle ID" box in the LBFO configuration property page. Valid bundle names can be of any length and can consist of any combination of letters, numbers, symbols, or spaces.
• Because of product incompatibilities, you will not be able to log on to a NetWare server over an LBFO bundle; however, you can logon to a NetWare server using any unbundled adapter. If you want to log on to a NetWare server over an unbundled adapter, when at least one LBFO bundle (comprised of other adapters) is configured, ensure that the NetWare client software you are using is not bound to any adapter that is part of an LBFO bundle.
• Adapters in an LBFO bundle do not support network packet-based wakeup of the computer (from standby or hibernate mode).

Reconfiguration

Removing adapters from a bundle

If you are removing an adapter from a LBFO bundle, follow these instructions:

1. Select My Network Places on the Windows 2000 desktop.
2. Select Network and Dial-up Connections to display the Network and Dial-up Connections window.
3. Right click on a Local Area Connection.
4. Select Properties.
5. In the Local Area Connection Properties window, select IBM Token-Ring Load Balancing and Failover Support in the components list, then select Properties (or double-click the service name).
6. Delete the Bundle ID. If the bundle ID is blank, it means that this adapter is not a part of an LBFO bundle.
7. Select OK.
8. In the Local Area Connection Properties panel, select OK.

Adding adapters to a bundle

If you are adding a newly added adapter to a bundle, follow these instructions:

1. Select My Network Places on the Windows 2000 desktop.
2. Select Network and Dial-up Connections to display the Network and Dial-up Connections window.
3. Right click on a Local Area Connection.

   Note:

   You might need to refresh this window if you recently added an adapter.

4. Select Properties.
5. In the Local Area Connection Properties window, select IBM Token-Ring Load Balancing and Failover Support in the components list, then select Properties (or double-click the service name).
6. By default, the Bundle ID parameter is blank. This means that this adapter is not bundled with any other adapters. To associate this adapter with a bundle, enter a bundle name in the Bundle ID parameter field. Any other adapters with that same bundle identifier will be part of this adapter's bundle.
7. Select OK.
8. In the Local Area Connection Properties panel, select OK.

If you moving a currently defined adapter from one LBFO bundle to another LBFO bundle, see Changing an adapter's bundle ID.

Changing an adapter's bundle ID

If you moving a currently defined adapter from one LBFO bundle to another LBFO bundle, follow these instructions:

1. Select My Network Places on the Windows 2000 desktop.
2. Select Network and Dial-up Connections to display the Network and Dial-up Connections window.
3. Right click on a Local Area Connection.
4. Select Properties.
5. In the Local Area Connection Properties window, select IBM Token-Ring Load Balancing and Failover Support in the components list, then select Properties (or double-click the service name).
6. Change the current Bundle ID to the ID of the new LBFO bundle.
7. Select OK.
8. In the Local Area Connection Properties panel, select OK.