Question Managed or unmanaged switch for link aggregation?

[tablespoon]

Hello, if I use several adapters for link aggregation, is it better to buy a managed or unmanaged switch?

 

[aigomorla]

you need a managed switch to enable LAG protocol.

Link Aggregation Groups (LAGs) on an unmanaged (SOHO) switch? Maybe.

Okay, so now here’s a trick question. Can you do Link Aggregation Groups (LAGs) on an unmanaged/SOHO switch? In general, no. However, there is one notable exception. If you are connecting a computer directly to the switch that supports Link Aggregation Groups in the operating system, then you...

quorten.github.io

In general, no. However, there is one notable exception. If you are connecting a computer directly to the switch that supports Link Aggregation Groups in the operating system, then you can effect link aggregation, but only to that particular computer.

 

[Genx87]

Windows and other modern OS's can perform a poor mans LAG at the adapter level. They call is switch independent bonding or something similar.

As for which is better? In an enterprise scenario where performance is concerned a managed switch with defined LAG groups is better. At home? I doubt most people would notice if you used the OS's bonding option. I even ran production level stuff using Hyper-V and windows bonding for years and performance was fine.

but things have changed where LAG isnt as required as before for something like SMB. SMB 3 will load balance across multiple links within the same VLAN without having to configure the switch or server nic. Except for making sure they reside within the same vlan.