Port Aggregation: Boosting Throughput and Redundancy in Enterprise Networks

Hi everyone! I’m Juan David, Lead Tech Support and a UniFi Certified Trainer here at Flytec Computers. If you’ve been navigating the world of networking, you’ve probably come across the term port aggregation. It might sound technical, but trust me, it’s a game-changer for optimizing network performance, especially in enterprise environments.

Today, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about port aggregation—what it is, how it works, and who can benefit from it. Whether you’re managing a large-scale enterprise network or just curious about improving throughput and redundancy, this guide has you covered. Let’s dive in!

What is Port Aggregation?

Port aggregation is a networking technique that combines multiple physical ports on a switch into a single logical link. By splitting traffic across these aggregated ports, it increases maximum throughput and ensures network redundancy. This setup enhances performance, particularly when multiple clients are actively passing traffic through the aggregated ports simultaneously.

Benefits of Port Aggregation

1. Increased Throughput
   • Aggregating ports enables the simultaneous use of multiple uplink paths, allowing higher traffic loads to pass through the network without bottlenecks.
2. Network Redundancy
   • If one link in the aggregation group fails, traffic is automatically rerouted through the remaining links, minimizing downtime and ensuring network reliability.

Who Can Benefit from Port Aggregation?

• Enterprise Users:
  Enterprises with high traffic demands or critical systems benefit the most from the increased throughput and redundancy provided by port aggregation.
• Home Users:
  Typically, home networks do not require aggregation due to their lower traffic volumes and less complex infrastructure.

Devices Supporting Port Aggregation

While most UniFi Switches support port aggregation, there are exceptions:

• Not Supported:
  • USW-Flex
  • USW-Flex-Mini
  • USW-Ultra-42W, USW-Ultra-60W

Additionally, UniFi Gateways do not support port aggregation, so avoid connecting two ports between a UniFi Switch and Gateway in an aggregated setup.

Key Use Cases for Port Aggregation

1. Switch-to-Switch Aggregation
   • Increases the bandwidth and redundancy between interconnected switches.
   • Ideal for networks managing high traffic loads between multiple switches.
2. Switch-to-Client Aggregation
   • Supports single high-performance devices (like servers) requiring more bandwidth than a single port can provide.

Limitations of Port Aggregation

Before implementing port aggregation, consider the following constraints:

• Port Sequencing: Aggregated ports must be sequential in number.
• Protocol Support: Only LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol) is widely supported in the newest Unifi Enterprise Campus Aggregation (ECS-Aggregation) switch, Unifi has introduced support for Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Group (MC-LAG).
• Gateway Connection: Port aggregation between UniFi Gateways and Switches is not supported.

Configuring Port Aggregation: Best Practices

1. Use the Right Cables
   • For maximum throughput in switch connections, use SFP+ cables for 10G ports, SFP28 cables for 25G ports, or Cat6a/Cat7 Ethernet cables for switches with 10G RJ45 Ethernet port.
2. Configure in Order
   • Start with the most downstream switch and work your way upstream toward the UniFi Console to ensure a smooth setup.
3. Choose the Right Protocol
   • Prefer LACP over static LAG configurations for its automatic failover and reduced risk of misconfiguration.

Understanding LACP vs. Static LAG Configurations

• Static LAG:
  • Manually configured and more error-prone.
  • No automatic failover if a link fails.
• LACP (802.3ad):
  • Dynamically manages the aggregation group.
  • Provides automatic failover and synchronizes settings between devices.

What About MC-LAG?

MC-LAG (Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Group) goes beyond standard port aggregation by enabling two switches to act as a single logical unit. Benefits include:

• Load balancing and redundancy for higher resilience.
• Connections to both MC-LAG switches simultaneously for uninterrupted performance.

MC-LAG is particularly valuable in large enterprise or data center networks where two switches need to act as a single logical unit for connections to core infrastructure, maximizing uptime and performance

Final Thoughts: Is Port Aggregation Right for You?

Port aggregation offers significant benefits for enterprise networks, including higher throughput, improved redundancy, and efficient traffic management. Businesses with high traffic loads or mission-critical systems can greatly enhance performance and reliability by implementing this feature.

For tailored advice and equipment recommendations, reach out to Flytec Computers—your trusted partner in networking solutions. Let’s see if we can make a connection!