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Bonding balance-alb (Adaptive Load Balancing)
- Mauro Escalante
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El Bonding balance-alb (Adaptive Load Balancing) in MikroTik RouterOS is an advanced network link bundling (bonding) technique that allows multiple network interfaces to be combined into a single logical entity. This technique is used to improve network redundancy and performance.
In MikroTik, bonding is configured through the RouterOS interface and offers several modes, including “balance-alb".
How does the Bonding balance-alb in MikroTik:
Combination of Multiple Interfaces
Bonding balance-alb combines two or more physical interfaces into a single logical interface. This means that traffic that would normally pass through a single interface is now distributed across multiple interfaces.
Adaptive Load Balancing
As the name suggests, adaptive load balancing dynamically adjusts the distribution of traffic across network interfaces. This is done based on current traffic, allowing for more efficient use of network resources.
Transmission and Reception of Traffic
In 'balance-alb' mode, both transmitting and receiving traffic are balanced. For transmission, balancing is performed by selecting the interface to use for each packet based on a hashing table. For reception, a technique called “ARP negotiation” is used to distribute the load between the interfaces.
ARP Negotiation for Receive Balancing
On reception, balance-alb uses a special technique to distribute the load. Modifies the MAC address in ARP packets so that responses are distributed among the interfaces in the group. This helps balance the traffic entering the router or server.
Does not require switch configuration
Unlike other bonding modes such as LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol), balance-alb does not require special configuration on the switch to which the interfaces are connected. This makes it more flexible and easier to configure in different environments.
Applications
This technique is useful in situations where high availability and network performance is required, such as in data centers, application servers, or in hosting environments.
Configuration in RouterOS
To configure balance-alb in MikroTik RouterOS, you need to access the router configuration interface, go to the 'Interfaces' section, create a new 'Bonding' and select balance-alb as the operating mode.
Advantages of Use:
- Better performance: By distributing traffic across multiple interfaces, higher aggregate bandwidth and better overall network performance can be achieved.
- Redundancy: If one of the interfaces fails, traffic is automatically redirected to the other active interfaces, ensuring continuity of connectivity.
- Flexibility in Network Topology: No special hardware or LACP-compliant switch configurations are required, allowing it to be used in a wider variety of network environments.
Technical Considerations:
- Interface Selection: It is important to select interfaces of similar capacity and speed to ensure effective balancing.
- Network Neighborhood Configuration: Although balance-alb does not require special configuration on the switch, it is essential to ensure that the network can adequately handle multiple paths and changing MAC addresses due to the ARP negotiation technique.
- Monitoring and Maintenance: Like any complex network configuration, it is crucial to monitor bonding performance and make adjustments as necessary to maintain optimal performance.
Limitations:
- Traffic Load Dependence: Balancing performance and effectiveness may vary depending on traffic patterns. In some cases, balancing may not be as effective if the traffic is highly asymmetric or if there is a predominance of long-duration sessions.
- Complexity in Problem Solving: Diagnosing problems in bonding configurations can be more complex due to the aggregated nature of the interfaces and dynamic balancing.
Bonding configuration in balance-alb mode in MikroTik
- Access the CLI Interface:
- First, you need to access the command line interface of your MikroTik device. This can be done via SSH, Telnet, or directly through the console if you have physical access to the device.
- Creation of the Bonding Group:
- Use the following command to create a new bonding group:
/interface bonding add name=bond1 mode=balance-alb
In this example, bondxnumx is the name of the bonding group. You can choose any name that is relevant to your configuration.
- Add Interfaces to the Bonding Group:
- Next, you must add the physical interfaces that you want to include in the bonding group. Suppose the interfaces are called ether1 y ether2. You would use the following commands:
/interface bonding set bond1 slaves=ether1,ether2
This command adds ether1 y ether2 to the bonding group bondxnumx.
- Additional Configuration:
- Depending on your network, you may need to make additional settings, such as configuring IP addresses, adjusting routes, or configuring additional services on the bonding interface.
- Verify Settings:
- Once setup is complete, it is important to verify that the bonding is working as expected. You can do it using the following command:
/interface bonding print
This command will show you the current status of the bonding interfaces, including mode and slave interfaces.
- Monitoring and Adjustments:
- Monitors the performance and status of the bonding group. Make adjustments if necessary, especially if you notice any performance or balancing issues.
This example provides a primer on how to configure a bonding group in balance-alb mode in MikroTik RouterOS using the CLI. Depending on the complexity of your network and specific requirements, you may need to make additional configurations or adjustments.
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