In Linux, network bonding (also known as NIC bonding or channel bonding) allows multiple network interfaces to be aggregated together to form a single logical interface, providing fault tolerance and increased network bandwidth. There are several modes of network bonding available in Linux, each offering different features and characteristics. Here are the different modes of network bonding:

Mode 0 - Round Robin (balance-rr) : In this mode, outgoing network packets are distributed sequentially across the bonded network interfaces in a round-robin fashion. This mode provides load balancing and increased outbound bandwidth but does not provide fault tolerance for incoming traffic.

Mode 1 - Active-Backup (active-backup) : In active-backup mode, one network interface (the active interface) is actively used for network traffic, while the other interfaces (the backup interfaces) remain in standby mode. If the active interface fails, traffic is automatically switched to one of the backup interfaces, providing fault tolerance with minimal network interruption.

Mode 2 - XOR (balance-xor) : XOR mode balances outgoing network traffic based on the MAC address of the transmitting device and the slave interface's MAC address. This mode provides load balancing and fault tolerance but requires specific network configurations to be effective.

Mode 3 - Broadcast (broadcast) : Broadcast mode sends all outgoing network traffic over all bonded interfaces simultaneously. This mode is primarily used for redundancy and does not provide load balancing or increased bandwidth.
Mode 4 - IEEE 802.3ad Dynamic Link Aggregation (802.3ad) : Also known as Dynamic Link Aggregation (LACP), this mode uses the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) to negotiate and dynamically manage the aggregation of network interfaces. It provides load balancing and fault tolerance while allowing for dynamic reconfiguration of the bonded interfaces.

Mode 5 - Adaptive Load Balancing (balance-tlb) : Adaptive Load Balancing mode balances outgoing network traffic based on the current load of each bonded interface. Outgoing traffic is distributed based on the current traffic load, providing increased bandwidth utilization without requiring special switch configuration. However, incoming traffic is not load-balanced.

Mode 6 - Adaptive Load Balancing with Fault Tolerance (balance-alb) : Adaptive Load Balancing with Fault Tolerance mode combines the features of active-backup mode and adaptive load balancing. It dynamically balances outgoing traffic based on the current load of each bonded interface while providing fault tolerance for incoming traffic by dynamically reassigning IP addresses.


Each bonding mode has its advantages and limitations, and the choice of mode depends on the specific requirements of the network environment, such as the desired level of fault tolerance, load balancing, and compatibility with network infrastructure.