Configuring Port Trunking with a QNAP Unmanaged Switch and a QNAP NAS
Network & Security - Internet
QNAP produces two 10GbE unmanaged switches; the 12-port QSW-1208-8C and the 8-port QSW-804-4C. The following tutorial shows you how to configure port trunking with a QNAP NAS and a QNAP unmanaged switch.
Port Trunking, also known as LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol), allows you to combine multiple LAN interfaces for increased bandwidth and load balancing for multiple clients. It also provides failover capabilities to maintain network connectivity if a network port fails.
Test Environment
|
Item |
Description |
|---|---|
|
1 |
QNAP NAS TVS-872N running QTS 4.4.3 |
|
2 |
10Gbps Cat 6 connection from NAS adapter 7 to the QNAP switch |
|
3 |
10Gbps Cat 6 connection from NAS adapter 8 to the QNAP switch |
|
4 |
QNAP QSW-M408-4C switch |
|
5 |
10Gbps Cat 6 connection from the switch to the Mac |
|
6 |
10Gbps Cat 6 connection from the switch to the Windows workstation |
|
7 |
Mac with a 10GbE network adapter |
|
8 |
Windows workstation with a 10GbE network adapter |
Important
- If you want to use 10GbE network cards, you must use cables of category CAT 6 or higher.
- For optimal performance, all links in a port trunking group should have the same connection speed.
Configuring Port Trunking in QTS
- Open Network & Virtual Switch.
- Go to Interfaces, and then click Port Trunking.
- Click Add.
- Select two or more network interfaces to add to the trunking group. The ports must be connected to the same switch.
- Click Next.
- Select the type of switch being used.
Select General Switch if you are using a QNAP QSW-1208-8C or QNAP QSW-804-4C unmanaged switch.
- Click Next.
- Select a port trunking mode.
The different port trunking modes are described on this screen. For this tutorial we will select Balance-alb, as it provides failover and load-balancing when sending and receiving data.
Tip
If you are using a managed switch, we recommend the algorithm 802.3ad dynamic.
- Click Apply.
QTS creates the port trunking group. The group now appears on the Port Trunking page.
Test Results
You can test port trunking by sending files from the Windows workstation and the Mac to the NAS simultaneously, then viewing network activity in QTS using Resource Monitor. The following image shows the results of this in our test environment.
According to the Balance-alb algorithm, QTS assigns a fixed interface to each connecting client in order of connection. In our test environment, QTS assigned adapter 7 to the Mac and then assigned adapter 8 to the Windows workstation. If a third client connected to switch, QTS would assign it adapter 7. These assignments will not change until one of the clients disconnects.
