How to configure link-aggregation in 2 main board of MA5608T

Issue Description

The MA5608T does not have a uplink board. the main control boards work as uplink board and provide uplink ports . for the requirement of network redundancy and security or extend uplink bandwidth, customer requires cross-board configure link aggregation.

Handling Process

the MA5608T 2 main boards work as active/standby mode by default , if change them to load-sharing mode , both of the active and standby control boards can processing data , link-aggregation or protect-group can be configured in 2 boards .
configure command as below ：

huawei(config)#system ex-mode
{ mode<E><backup,load-sharing> }:load-sharing

 Command:                                                                      

          system ex-mode load-sharing                                           
  Info: You are switching the system exchange mode to load-sharing.             
  Load-sharing mode can offer more bandwidth and more up ports.                 
  You should backup the service configuration, because mode switching will      
  delete the data.                                                                
  Are you sure?(y/n)[n]:y                                                       
  Mode switching will result system rebooting.                                  
  Are you sure?(y/n)[n]:y                                                       
  Note: Please execute save command to save the configuration after the system is
 reboot

Solution

Because the switch mode operation will clear the configuration, should consider whether the device exist configurations or not before doing mode switching. Here are the 2 scenario change method:

1. new device delivery scenario ：

change the mode directly with command ：

huawei(config)#system ex-mode
{ mode<E><backup,load-sharing> }:load-sharing
 Command:                                                                      
          system ex-mode load-sharing                                           
  Info: You are switching the system exchange mode to load-sharing.             
  Load-sharing mode can offer more bandwidth and more up ports.                 
  You should backup the service configuration, because mode switching will      
  delete the data.                                                                
  Are you sure?(y/n)[n]:y                                                       
  Mode switching will result system rebooting.                                  
  Are you sure?(y/n)[n]:y                                                       
  Note: Please execute save command to save the configuration after the system is
 reboot

2. live network existing configurations scenario
3. login to the MA5608T device , save the MA5608T configuration file.

in config mode ，execute command ：

huawei(config)#save
besure save execute successfully 
in config mode ，execute command ：
huawei(config)#backup configuration ftp x.x.x.x old.cfg
besure configuration file backuped up successfully ,the file old.cfg can be find in the FTP or SFTP directory.
modify the configuration file with notepad.

Modify the system working mode :

1. load the modified configuration file and active the configuration file with command:

huawei (config)#load configuration ftp x.x.x.x new.txt
huawei (config)#active configuration system

Active configuration system will reboot automatically and recover the configurations (will take long time ), and the system will reboot once again while processing the configuration recover (switch to load-sharing mode )

1. after the main boards status become normal ,check if any configuration not recovered

in diagnose mode query if any configuration active failed ,command as below :

huawei(diagnose)#display unresumed-configuration active

1. check the service if working well .

note : R17 version or later step c, d can instead by below command :

huawei(config)#system ex-mode
{ load-sharing<K>|mode<E><backup,load-sharing> }:load-sharing
{ <cr>|active-configuration<K> }:active-configuration

 Command:                                                                      

system ex-mode load-sharing active-configuration                    
  Info: You are switching the system exchange mode to load-sharing.        
  Load-sharing mode can offer more bandwidth and more up ports.        
  You should save configuration file and backup the service configuration, 
because mode switching will auto active configuration file.                          
  Are you sure?(y/n)[n]:y                                                       
  Mode switching will result system rebooting.                                  
  Are you sure?(y/n)[n]:y                                                       
  Note: Please execute save command to save the configuration after the system is
 reboot

After change the system working mode  to load-sharing mode , can configure the link-aggregation or protect-group in the 2 main boards

Suggestions

1. When the MA5608T in load-sharing mode, the last port GE3 cannot be used as uplink port , it will using for 2 main boards communication.
2. MA5603T/MA5600T can use this method support 2 main board provide uplink ports also, but do not suggest , Changing to the load sharing mode will reduce the reliability of the equipment.any of the two main control boards damage may effect the service.
3. When the control boards are in the load sharing mode, it is recommended not to redirect packets based on the basic ACL, advanced ACL, or link-layer ACL by using the traffic-redirect command. Otherwise, the packet that matches the ACL fails to learn the MAC address will be forwarded incorrectly.
4. Mode switching resets the system, clears configuration data (including saved configuration data), and interrupts the in-band network management channel. Therefore, you are advised to determine the working mode of control boards before site deployment and avoid switching the working mode afterwards.