IPMP provides the following support:
IPMP enables you to configure multiple IP interfaces into a single group, called an IPMP group. As a whole, the IPMP group with its multiple underlying IP interfaces is represented as a single IPMP interface. This interface is treated just like any other interface on the IP layer of the network stack. All IP administrative tasks, routing tables, Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) tables, firewall rules, and other IP-related procedures work with an IPMP group by referring to the IPMP interface.
The system handles the distribution of data addresses amongst the underlying active interfaces. When the IPMP group is created, data addresses belong to the IPMP interface as an address pool. The kernel then automatically and randomly binds the data addresses to the underlying active interfaces of the group.
You primarily use the ipmpstat command to obtain information about IPMP groups. This command provides information about all aspects of the IPMP configuration, such as the underlying IP interfaces of the group, test and data addresses, types of failure detection being used, and which interfaces have failed. The ipmpstat command functions, the options that you can use, and the output that each option generates are all described in Monitoring IPMP Information.
You can assign an IPMP interface a customized name to identify the IPMP group more easily. See Configuring IPMP Groups.