Dell Broadcom NetXtreme Family of Adapters - Manual (Page 93)

Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet Teaming Services: Broadcom NetXtreme BCM57XX User Guide
file:///C|/Users/Nalina_N_S/Documents/NetXtreme/English/teamsvcs.htm[9/5/2014 3:32:13 PM]
Answer:
Broadcom's teaming software only supports IP/TCP/UDP traffic. All other traffic is forwarded to the primary
adapter.
Question: Which protocols are load balanced with SLB and which ones are not?
Answer:
Only IP/TCP/UDP protocols are load balanced in both directions: send and receive. IPX is load balanced on the
transmit traffic only.
Question: Can I team a port running at 100 Mbps with a port running at 1000 Mbps?
Answer:
Mixing link speeds within a team is only supported for Smart Load Balancing™ teams and 802.3ad teams, as
stated earlier.
Question: Can I team a fiber adapter with a copper Gigabit Ethernet adapter?
Answer: Yes with SLB, and yes if the switch allows for it in FEC/GEC and 802.3ad.
Question: What is the difference between adapter load balancing and Microsoft's Network Load Balancing (NLB)?
Answer:
Adapter load balancing is done at a network session level, whereas NLB is done at the system application
level.
Question: Can I connect the teamed adapters to a hub?
Answer:
Yes. Teamed ports can be connected to a hub for troubleshooting purposes. However, this practice is not
recommended for normal operation because the performance would be degraded due to hub limitations.
Connect the teamed ports to a switch instead.
Question: Can I connect the teamed adapters to ports in a router?
Answer:
No. All ports in a team must be on the same network; in a router, however, each port is a separate network
by definition. All teaming modes require that the link partner be a Layer 2 switch.
Question: Can I use teaming with Microsoft Cluster Services?
Answer: Yes. Teaming is supported on the public network only, not on the private network used for the heartbeat link.
Question: Can PXE work over a virtual adapter (team)?
Answer:
A PXE client operates in an environment before the operating system is loaded; as a result, virtual adapters
have not been enabled yet. If the physical adapter supports PXE, then it can be used as a PXE client, whether
or not it is part of a virtual adapter when the operating system loads. PXE servers may operate over a virtual
adapter.
Question: Can WOL work over a virtual adapter (team)?
Answer:
Wake-on-LAN functionality operates in an environment before the operating system is loaded. WOL occurs
when the system is off or in standby, so no team is configured.