Chapter 4. Configuring a NIC team

Procedure

1. Create a team interface:

   # nmcli connection add type team con-name team0 ifname team0 team.runner activebackup

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   This command creates a NIC team named team0 that uses the activebackup runner.

2. Optional: Set a link watcher. For example, to set the ethtool link watcher in the team0 connection profile:

   # nmcli connection modify team0 team.link-watchers "name=ethtool"

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   Link watchers support different parameters. To set parameters for a link watcher, specify them space-separated in the name property. Note that the name property must be surrounded by quotation marks. For example, to use the ethtool link watcher and set its delay-up parameter to 2500 milliseconds (2.5 seconds):

   # nmcli connection modify team0 team.link-watchers "name=ethtool delay-up=2500"

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   To set multiple link watchers and each of them with specific parameters, the link watchers must be separated by a comma. The following example sets the ethtool link watcher with the delay-up parameter and the arp_ping link watcher with the source-host and target-host parameter:

   # nmcli connection modify team0 team.link-watchers "name=ethtool delay-up=2, name=arp_ping source-host=192.0.2.1 target-host=192.0.2.2"

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3. Display the network interfaces, and note the names of the interfaces you want to add to the team:

   # nmcli device status
   DEVICE  TYPE      STATE         CONNECTION
   enp7s0  ethernet  disconnected  --
   enp8s0  ethernet  disconnected  --
   bond0   bond      connected  bond0
   bond1   bond      connected  bond1
   ...

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   In this example:

   • enp7s0 and enp8s0 are not configured. To use these devices as ports, add connection profiles in the next step. Note that you can only use Ethernet interfaces in a team that are not assigned to any connection.
   • bond0 and bond1 have existing connection profiles. To use these devices as ports, modify their profiles in the next step.

4. Assign the port interfaces to the team:

   1. If the interfaces you want to assign to the team are not configured, create new connection profiles for them:

      # nmcli connection add type ethernet slave-type team con-name team0-port1 ifname enp7s0 master team0
      # nmcli connection add type ethernet slave--type team con-name team0-port2 ifname enp8s0 master team0

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      These commands create profiles for enp7s0 and enp8s0, and add them to the team0 connection.

   2. To assign an existing connection profile to the team:

      1. Set the master parameter of these connections to team0:

         # nmcli connection modify bond0 master team0
         # nmcli connection modify bond1 master team0

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         These commands assign the existing connection profiles named bond0 and bond1 to the team0 connection.

      2. Reactivate the connections:

         # nmcli connection up bond0
         # nmcli connection up bond1

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5. Configure the IPv4 settings:

   • To set a static IPv4 address, network mask, default gateway, and DNS server to the team0 connection, enter:

     # nmcli connection modify team0 ipv4.addresses '192.0.2.1/24' ipv4.gateway '192.0.2.254' ipv4.dns '192.0.2.253' ipv4.dns-search 'example.com' ipv4.method manual

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   • To use DHCP, no action is required.
   • If you plan to use this team device as a port of other devices, no action is required.

6. Configure the IPv6 settings:

   • To set a static IPv6 address, network mask, default gateway, and DNS server to the team0 connection, enter:

     # nmcli connection modify team0 ipv6.addresses '2001:db8:1::1/64' ipv6.gateway '2001:db8:1::fffe' ipv6.dns '2001:db8:1::fffd' ipv6.dns-search 'example.com' ipv6.method manual

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   • If you plan to use this team device as a port of other devices, no action is required.
   • To use stateless address autoconfiguration (SLAAC), no action is required.

7. Activate the connection:

   # nmcli connection up team0

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Procedure

1. Log in to the RHEL 8 web console.

   For details, see Logging in to the web console.

2. Select the Networking tab in the navigation on the left side of the screen.
3. Click Add team in the Interfaces section.
4. Enter the name of the team device you want to create.
5. Select the interfaces that should be ports of the team.

6. Select the runner of the team.

   If you select Load balancing or 802.3ad LACP, the web console shows the additional field Balancer.

7. Set the link watcher:

   • If you select Ethtool, additionally, set a link up and link down delay.
   • If you set ARP ping or NSNA ping, additionally, set a ping interval and ping target.
8. Click Apply.

9. By default, the team uses a dynamic IP address. If you want to set a static IP address:

   1. Click the name of the team in the Interfaces section.
   2. Click Edit next to the protocol you want to configure.
   3. Select Manual next to Addresses, and enter the IP address, prefix, and default gateway.
   4. In the DNS section, click the + button, and enter the IP address of the DNS server. Repeat this step to set multiple DNS servers.
   5. In the DNS search domains section, click the + button, and enter the search domain.
   6. If the interface requires static routes, configure them in the Routes section.
   7. Click Apply

Verification

1. Select the Networking tab in the navigation on the left side of the screen, and check if there is incoming and outgoing traffic on the interface.

2. Display the status of the team:

   # teamdctl team0 state
   setup:
     runner: activebackup
   ports:
     enp7s0
       link watches:
         link summary: up
         instance[link_watch_0]:
           name: ethtool
           link: up
           down count: 0
     enp8s0
       link watches:
         link summary: up
         instance[link_watch_0]:
           name: ethtool
           link: up
           down count: 0
   runner:
     active port: enp7s0

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   In this example, both ports are up.

Procedure

1. Open a terminal, and enter nm-connection-editor:

   $ nm-connection-editor

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2. Click the + button to add a new connection.
3. Select the Team connection type, and click Create.

4. On the Team tab:

   1. Optional: Set the name of the team interface in the Interface name field.

   2. Click the Add button to add a new connection profile for a network interface and add the profile as a port to the team.

      1. Select the connection type of the interface. For example, select Ethernet for a wired connection.
      2. Optional: Set a connection name for the port.
      3. If you create a connection profile for an Ethernet device, open the Ethernet tab, and select in the Device field the network interface you want to add as a port to the team. If you selected a different device type, configure it accordingly. Note that you can only use Ethernet interfaces in a team that are not assigned to any connection.
      4. Click Save.
   3. Repeat the previous step for each interface you want to add to the team.

   4. Click the Advanced button to set advanced options to the team connection.

      1. On the Runner tab, select the runner.
      2. On the Link Watcher tab, set the link watcher and its optional settings.
      3. Click OK.

5. Configure the IP address settings on both the IPv4 Settings and IPv6 Settings tabs:

   • If you plan to use this bridge device as a port of other devices, set the Method field to Disabled.
   • To use DHCP, leave the Method field at its default, Automatic (DHCP).

   • To use static IP settings, set the Method field to Manual and fill the fields accordingly:

     

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6. Click Save.
7. Close nm-connection-editor.