This article provides information on the concepts, limitations, and a sample configuration of link aggregation between ESXi host and a Dell switch which supports VLT (Virtual Link Trunk), i.e. setting up NIC Teaming on the ESXi host and Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) on the Physical Network Dell Switches
LACP or IEEE 802.3ad: The Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is included in IEEE specification as a method to control the bundling of several physical ports together to form a single logical channel.
ESXi/ESX host only supports NIC teaming when connected to a single physical switch, stacked switches, or switches combined via VLT (Virtual Link Trunk). This means that the links on the ESXi host are teamed and appear as one from switch perspective. Switches combined into a stack or VLT appear as one switch to the ESXi host. Link aggregation is never supported between separate trunked switches.
Note: LACP is only supported in vSphere 5.1 and 5.5 with vSphere Distributed Switches
To configure vSwitch properties for load balancing:
Do not configure standby or unused uplinks with IP HASH load balancing.
In the below example vmnic2 is connected to port 0/41 on Switch A and vmnic 3 is connected to port 0/41 on Switch B. Switch A and switch B have exactly the same configuration as below.
Vlt-peer-lag refers to the port channel number on the peer switch.
interface TenGigabitEthernet 0/41
no ip address
mtu 12000
port-channel-protocol LACP
port-channel 100 mode active
no shutdown
interface Port-channel 100
no ip address
mtu 12000
portmode hybrid
vlt-peer-lag port-channel 100
no shutdown