Configuring Network Interface Backup

Use this procedure to configure a network interface backup in the newer versions.

1. With root authority, type smitty etherchannel on the command line.
2. Select Add an EtherChannel / Link Aggregation from the list and press Enter.
3. Select the primary Ethernet adapter and press Enter. This is the adapter that will be used until it fails.
   Note: The Available Network Adapters field displays all of the Ethernet adapters. If you select an Ethernet adapter that is already being used, you will get an error message and will need to detach this interface before you can use it. Refer to Making changes to an EtherChannel with 5200-01 and earlier for information on how to detach an interface.
4. Enter the information in the following fields according to the following guidelines:
   • Parent Adapter: This field provides information of an EtherChannel's parent device (for example, when an EtherChannel belongs to a Shared Ethernet Adapter). This field displays a value of NONE if the EtherChannel is not contained within another adapter (the default). If the EtherChannel is contained within another adapter, this field displays the parent adapter's name (for example, ent6). This field is informational only and cannot be modified. The backup adapter option is available in the AIX® operating system.
   • EtherChannel / Link Aggregation Adapters: You should see the primary adapter you selected in the previous step.
   • Enable Alternate Address: This field is optional. Setting this to yes will enable you to specify a MAC address that you want the EtherChannel to use. If you set this option to no, the EtherChannel will use the MAC address of the primary adapter.
   • Alternate Address: If you set Enable Alternate Address to yes, specify the MAC address that you want to use here. The address you specify must start with 0x and be a 12-digit hexadecimal address (for example 0x001122334455).
   • Enable Gigabit Ethernet Jumbo Frames: This field is optional. In order to use this, your switch must support jumbo frames. This only works with a Standard Ethernet (en) interface, not an IEEE 802.3 (et) interface. Set this to yes if you want to use it.
   • Mode: It is irrelevant which mode of operation you select because there is only one adapter in the main EtherChannel. All packets are sent over that adapter until it fails. There is no netif_backup mode because that mode can be emulated using a backup adapter.
   • Hash Mode: It is irrelevant which hash mode you select because there is only one adapter in the main EtherChannel. All packets are sent over that adapter until it fails.
   • Backup Adapter: Enter the adapter that you want to be your backup adapter. After a failover, this adapter is used until the primary adapter recovers. It is recommended to use the preferred adapter as the primary adapter.
   • Internet Address to Ping: This field is optional. The EtherChannel pings the IP address or host name that you specify here. If the EtherChannel is unable to ping this address for the number of times specified in the Number of Retries field and in the intervals specified in the Retry Timeout field, the EtherChannel switches adapters.
   • Number of Retries: Enter the number of ping response failures that are allowed before the EtherChannel switches adapters. The default is three. This field is optional and valid only if you have set an Internet Address to Ping.
   • Retry Timeout: Enter the number of seconds between the times when the EtherChannel pings the Internet Address to Ping. The default is one second. This field is optional and valid only if you have set an Internet Address to Ping.
5. Press Enter after changing the desired fields to create the EtherChannel.
6. Configure IP over the newly-created interface by typing smitty chinet at the command line.
7. Select your new EtherChannel interface from the list.
8. Fill in all of the required fields and press Enter.