D-Link DES-5024 - Switch Frequently Asked Questions - page 3
Q: How does the trunking function work in DES-1016 and DES-1024 ?
-Link aggregation
Link aggregation and trunking basically is a method treat multiple physical link as a single logical link.. four ports can
be grouped together as a single trunk port.
-Static load balancing
The switch distribute the network traffic load balancing in a four-port trunk. It depends on the lowest byte of the source
MAC address of all packets. Besides the trunking function work between switch-to-switch, it also work between
switch-to-server. For example: use a 4-Mac server NIC with optional load balancing software. In this case, the server
take the control right and user don't need to enable port trunking function on the switch site.
Q: What is the difference between the application of trunking and the stackability of switches? The trunking
function might be able to compete with stackable switches.
The stackable switch using additional interface to cascade several LAN switch together, it basically is a proprietary
solution. Most of stackable switch vendor will charge additional cost from the customer in stackable cable or stackable
interface(or expansion module).
For the LAN switch which support porrt trunking,, it can connect multiple link to create a dynamic high-bandwidth
"backplane" with the front panel ports. It can easily used standard category 5 cable, and it’s more flexible for the
customer to scale their office network.
Switch #1
Switch #2
Port trunking (400Mbps*2)
File Server with 4-MAC
Server NIC