MikroTik Certified Switching Engineer (MTCSWE)
1 Introduction to Networking
1-1 Basic Networking Concepts
1-2 OSI Model
1-3 TCPIP Model
1-4 Network Devices
2 MikroTik RouterOS Basics
2-1 Introduction to RouterOS
2-2 RouterOS Interface Types
2-3 Basic Configuration
2-4 User Management
2-5 System Logging
3 Switching Fundamentals
3-1 Introduction to Switching
3-2 MAC Addresses
3-3 Ethernet Frame Structure
3-4 VLAN Basics
3-5 Trunking and Inter-VLAN Routing
4 MikroTik SwitchOS Basics
4-1 Introduction to SwitchOS
4-2 SwitchOS Interface Types
4-3 Basic Configuration
4-4 User Management
4-5 System Logging
5 VLAN Configuration
5-1 VLAN Creation and Configuration
5-2 VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP)
5-3 Inter-VLAN Routing
5-4 VLAN Security
6 Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
6-1 Introduction to STP
6-2 STP Operation
6-3 Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)
6-4 Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP)
6-5 STP Configuration
7 Link Aggregation
7-1 Introduction to Link Aggregation
7-2 Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
7-3 Static Link Aggregation
7-4 Link Aggregation Configuration
8 Quality of Service (QoS)
8-1 Introduction to QoS
8-2 QoS Models
8-3 Traffic Shaping and Policing
8-4 QoS Configuration
9 Security Features
9-1 Introduction to Network Security
9-2 Port Security
9-3 Access Control Lists (ACLs)
9-4 DHCP Snooping
9-5 Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)
10 Advanced Switching Topics
10-1 Layer 3 Switching
10-2 Multicast Routing
10-3 Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP)
10-4 Power over Ethernet (PoE)
11 Troubleshooting and Maintenance
11-1 Common Switching Issues
11-2 Troubleshooting Tools
11-3 Switch Maintenance
11-4 Backup and Restore
12 MikroTik Certification Exam Preparation
12-1 Exam Overview
12-2 Study Tips
12-3 Practice Questions
12-4 Exam Registration and Scheduling
7 Link Aggregation Explained

7 Link Aggregation Explained

Key Concepts of Link Aggregation

Link Aggregation, also known as EtherChannel or Bonding, is a method used to combine multiple physical Ethernet links into a single logical link. Key concepts include:

Link Aggregation Group (LAG)

A Link Aggregation Group (LAG) is a collection of physical Ethernet links configured to work together as a single logical link. LAGs increase bandwidth and provide redundancy by combining multiple links into one.

Example: In a network with four 1 Gbps links, creating a LAG allows these links to be treated as a single 4 Gbps link. This increases the total available bandwidth and ensures that traffic can be distributed across all four links.

Load Balancing

Load Balancing in Link Aggregation involves distributing network traffic across multiple links to optimize bandwidth utilization. Different algorithms can be used to determine how traffic is distributed, such as source MAC address, destination MAC address, or IP address.

Example: In a network with a LAG consisting of two 1 Gbps links, traffic can be distributed based on the source IP address. This ensures that different devices' traffic is spread across both links, maximizing the use of available bandwidth.

Redundancy

Redundancy in Link Aggregation provides failover capabilities, ensuring network continuity in the event of a link failure. If one link in the LAG fails, traffic is automatically rerouted through the remaining links, minimizing downtime.

Example: In a network with a LAG of three 1 Gbps links, if one link fails, the remaining two links continue to carry the traffic. This ensures that the network remains operational without interruption.

Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)

Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is a standardized protocol used to negotiate and manage link aggregation between network devices. LACP allows devices to dynamically form and maintain LAGs, ensuring that all links in the group are operational and properly configured.

Example: When configuring a LAG between two MikroTik switches, enabling LACP allows the switches to automatically detect and configure the links as a single logical link. This ensures that the LAG is properly formed and maintained without manual intervention.

Static Link Aggregation

Static Link Aggregation involves manually configuring link aggregation without using LACP. This method requires manual configuration on both ends of the link and does not provide dynamic link management or negotiation.

Example: In a network where LACP is not supported, static link aggregation can be configured by manually grouping the links on both switches. This method requires careful configuration to ensure that the links are properly aggregated and operational.