This article describes how to configure LACP (802.3ad) bonding on the external network interface of a BCM 11 Head Node.

The configuration consists of two parts:

1. Operating System (Ubuntu)
   • Configure the Linux bond using Netplan.
2. Bright Cluster Manager (BCM)
   
   
   • Create the corresponding bonded interface in cmsh.
     

Create the Netplan configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/netplan/02-external-bond.yaml

Paste the following configuration:

network:
  version: 2
  renderer: NetworkManager

  ethernets:
    ens2f0np0:
      dhcp4: no
    ens2f1np1:
      dhcp4: no

  bonds:
    bond0:
      interfaces:
        - ens2f0np0
        - ens2f1np1
      parameters:
        mode: 802.3ad
        mii-monitor-interval: 100
      addresses:
        - <address>
      routes:
        - to: default
          via: <gateway ip>
      nameservers:
        addresses:
          - <dns ip>

Apply the configuration:

sudo chmod 600 /etc/netplan/02-external-bond.yaml
sudo netplan apply

Step 2: Create Bond in cmsh (Manual Method)

Run the following commands in cmsh:

cmsh

% device use <headnode-hostname>          # ← Change to your head node hostname
% interfaces

# Remove existing network/IP from the physical interfaces first

% use ens2f0np0
% clear network
% clear ip
% commit

% add ens2f1np1

% use ens2f1np1
% clear network
% clear ip
% commit

# Go back and create the bond

% ..
% add bond bond0
% set interfaces ens2f0np0 ens2f1np1
% set network externalnet
% set ip <ip>
% set mode 4
% set options "miimon=100"
% commit

Step 3: Verify Configuration

Verify in cmsh

cmsh

% device use <headnode-hostname>
% interfaces
% list

Verify at the OS Level

ip a show bond0

Summary of Working cmsh Commands (Clean Version)

cmsh

% device use <head-node-hostname>
% interfaces

% use ens2f0np0
% clear network
% clear ip
% commit

% use ens2f1np1
% clear network
% clear ip
% commit

% ..

% add bond bond0
% set interfaces ens2f0np0 ens2f1np1
% set network externalnet
% set ip <address>
% set mode 4
% set options "miimon=100"
% commit