Cisco Catalyst 3550 + Alteon 184 Load-Balancing Issues

ciscoload balancing

I have just deployed a couple Cisco Catalyst 3550 switches, and a couple Alteon 184 Web Switches for load-balancing. I can ping all RIPs and VIPs to/from the Alteon.

Topology Before: (server) <-> (Alteon) <-> (Internet)

Topology Now: (server) <-> (3550) <-> Alteon <-> (Internet)

Cisco Port Configuration (Alteon Uplink Port):

description LB_1_PORT_9_PRIMARY
switchport access vlan 10
switchport mode access
switchport nonegotiate
speed 100
duplex full

Alteon Port 9 Configuration (VLAN 10 WAN):

>> Main# /c/port 9/cur
Current Port 9 configuration: enabled
    pref fast, backup gig, PVID 10, BW Contract 1024
    name UPLINK

>> Main# /c/port 9/fast/cur
Current Port 9 Fast link configuration:
    speed 100, mode full duplex, fctl none, auto off

Cisco Configuration (Load-Balanced Servers Port):

description LB_1_PORT_1_PRIMARY
switchport access vlan 30
switchport mode access
switchport nonegotiate
speed 100
duplex full

Alteon Port 1 Configuration (VLAN 30 LOAD-BALANCED LAN):

>> Main# /c/port 1/cur
Current Port 1 configuration: enabled
    pref fast, backup gig, PVID 30, BW Contract 1024
    name LB_PORT_1

>> Main# /c/port 1/fast/cur
Current Port 1 Fast link configuration:
    speed 100, mode full duplex, fctl both, auto on

Each of my servers are on vlan 10 and 30, properly communicating.

I have tried to turn on VLAN tagging on the Alteon, however it seems to cause all communications to stop working.

When I tcpdump -i vlan30 on any of the webservers, I see normal ARP communications, and some STP communications, which may or may not be part of the problem:

...
15:00:51.035882 STP 802.1d, Config, Flags [none], bridge-id 801e.00:11:5c:62:fe:80.8041, length 42
15:00:51.493154 IP 10.1.1.254.33923 > 10.1.1.1.http: Flags [S], seq 707324510, win 8760, options [mss 1460], length 0
15:00:51.493336 IP 10.1.1.1.http > 10.1.1.254.33923: Flags [S.], seq 3981707623, ack 707324511, win 65535, options [mss 1460], len                                                                                gth 0
15:00:51.493778 ARP, Request who-has 10.1.3.1 tell 10.1.3.254, length 46
etc...

I'm not sure if I've provided enough information, so please let me know if any more is necessary.

Thank you!

Best Answer

you can practice on Alteon device at this online lab:

http://www.sharontools.com/online-lab/