You can use it to aggregate a group of interfaces of the same speed and duplex setting.  Table 3-1 on page 42 summarizes the bonding methods and descriptions of the associated  network layers. The 802.3ad standard does not mandate any particular distribution  algorithms. However, no distribution algorithm ensures that the following actions do not occur: The standard suggests, but does not mandate, that the algorithm can assign one or more  conversations to the same port; however, it must not allocate some of the frames of a  conversation to one port and the remainder to different ports. The information that is used to  assign conversations to ports could include the following items: The transmit hash policy decides, according to parameters or a combination of parameters,  the frames that are distributed. For example, when you have a server that exchanges  information with several hosts on the same subnet, configuring a source/destination MAC  hash usually produces a reasonable load distribution. If you want to use load balancing over a  router, then a Layer 3 hash does not help because the server sees only one IP address (of  the router), and therefore all traffic is sent over the same interface. In this case, a Layer 4  hash must be used. GLYPH<SM590000> Combining all 1 Gb network interfaces into one single link aggregation group is not a  preferred practice. Use multiple groups of two interfaces or four interfaces instead. GLYPH<SM590000> The 802.3ad dynamic link aggregation method is suitable to increase your throughput  when you use 1 Gb network interfaces in combination with a single backup server. GLYPH<SM590000> Combinations of these items GLYPH<SM590000> Higher layer protocol information (for example, addressing and protocol identification  information from the LLC sub layer or above) GLYPH<SM590000> Ethernet Length/Type value (protocol identification) GLYPH<SM590000> The type of destination address (individual or group MAC address) GLYPH<SM590000> The reception port GLYPH<SM590000> Destination IP address GLYPH<SM590000> Source IP address GLYPH<SM590000> Destination MAC address GLYPH<SM590000> Source MAC address GLYPH<SM590000> Duplicating frames GLYPH<SM590000> Misordering frames that are part of any conversation Notes:  T Chapter 3. Networking essentials  41