PRIMECLUSTER Global Link Services Configuration and Administration Guide: Multipath Function (for Solaris(TM) Operating Environment)

1.1.2.1 MAC address distribution method

This section explains the Multilink Ethernet MAC address distribution method.

In the MAC address distribution method, the Multipath function independently determines the transmission destination NIC from the remote MAC (transmission destination MAC) address added to the transmission data, and transmits the data.
This method lowers the likelihood of the transmission path being occupied by one remote system if there are many remote systems to be connected and enhances the transmission efficiency of the other remote systems.

"Figure 1.5 Transmission data flow in MAC address distribution method," diagrams the transmission data flow in MAC address distribution method.

[Figure 1.5 Transmission data flow in MAC address distribution method]

• The CPU load rate increases in proportion to the number of used NICs.
  Therefore, response to the remote system can be expected to improve, but the transfer performance does not necessarily increase.
• The transmission path through which the local system receives data depends on the distribution method of the switch.
  When the switching method distributes the data to remote MAC (transmission destination MAC) addresses, the data is received on one transmission path because the local system has only one MAC address.
  When the switching method distributes the data from local MAC (transmission source MAC) addresses, the data is received via distributed transmission paths, where the Multipath function efficiently uses the component NICs. This leads to more efficient communication.
• Since a remote MAC (destination MAC) address turns into a MAC address of a router, when the router is installed between the local system and the remote system, the transmission path becomes one.
  When the router is installed between the local system and the remote system, Multilink Ethernet destination IP address distribution method is effective.
  Multilink Ethernet destination IP address distribution method is shown in subsection "1.1.2.3 Destination IP address distribution method."