Question regarding Link Aggregation and my set up

[Scruffy90]

So I just picked up a NAS (WD PR4100) and it supports a few link aggregation modes :

• Round robin
• active backup
• balance-XOR
• Broadcast
• 802.3ad
• Adaptive Transmit Load Balancing
• Adaptive load balancing

and I have a few questions. Does my router (Netgear R6400) need to support these modes to use them? Which mode would be best suited for performance if my router does support said modes? If my router doesnt support these modes, would I still benefit from having any of them on, or should I turn it off and unplug one of the 2 ports?

[TheKDub]

Yes, your router would have to support link aggregation for you to use it. There would be no benefit in attempting to use it one of the ends doesn't support it.

[Electronics Wizardy]

You need a switch that supports it(get a managed switch)

 

Do you have more than one client, if not, link aggregation won't even help.

[Scruffy90]

Just now, TheKDub said:

Yes, your router would have to support link aggregation for you to use it. There would be no benefit in attempting to use it one of the ends doesn't support it.

I see. No clue if my router supports it. Looked through the manual and it makes no mention of link aggregation. Is it safe to assume that it's not supported?

Would there be any point in leaving both ethernet cables connected?

 

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

You need a switch that supports it(get a managed switch)

 

Do you have more than one client, if not, link aggregation won't even help.

The NAS will be accessed by multiple clients. No clue if my router supports it. The manual makes no mention of it (updated model supports it seems like). Assuming it doesn't support it, would there be any point in leaving both ethernet cables connected?

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, Scruffy90 said:

The NAS will be accessed by multiple clients. No clue if my router supports it. The manual makes no mention of it (updated model supports it seems like). Assuming it doesn't support it, would there be any point in leaving both ethernet cables connected?

Genreally, get a switch, no need for more than one connector on a router.

 

It won't help for most of the time to have 2 connectors, your network won't benfit.

[Scruffy90]

3 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Genreally, get a switch, no need for more than one connector on a router.

 

It won't help for most of the time to have 2 connectors, your network won't benfit.

Thanks