I have just deployed a couple Cisco Catalyst 3550 switches, and a couple Alteon 184 Web Switches for load-balancing. I can ping all RIPs and VIPs to/from the Alteon.

Topology Before: (server) <-> (Alteon) <-> (Internet)

Topology Now: (server) <-> (3550) <-> Alteon <-> (Internet)

Cisco Port Configuration (Alteon Uplink Port):

description LB_1_PORT_9_PRIMARY
switchport access vlan 10
switchport mode access
switchport nonegotiate
speed 100
duplex full

Alteon Port 9 Configuration (VLAN 10 WAN):

>> Main# /c/port 9/cur
Current Port 9 configuration: enabled
    pref fast, backup gig, PVID 10, BW Contract 1024
    name UPLINK

>> Main# /c/port 9/fast/cur
Current Port 9 Fast link configuration:
    speed 100, mode full duplex, fctl none, auto off

Cisco Configuration (Load-Balanced Servers Port):

description LB_1_PORT_1_PRIMARY
switchport access vlan 30
switchport mode access
switchport nonegotiate
speed 100
duplex full

Alteon Port 1 Configuration (VLAN 30 LOAD-BALANCED LAN):

>> Main# /c/port 1/cur
Current Port 1 configuration: enabled
    pref fast, backup gig, PVID 30, BW Contract 1024
    name LB_PORT_1

>> Main# /c/port 1/fast/cur
Current Port 1 Fast link configuration:
    speed 100, mode full duplex, fctl both, auto on

Each of my servers are on vlan 10 and 30, properly communicating.

I have tried to turn on VLAN tagging on the Alteon, however it seems to cause all communications to stop working.

When I tcpdump -i vlan30 on any of the webservers, I see normal ARP communications, and some STP communications, which may or may not be part of the problem:

...
15:00:51.035882 STP 802.1d, Config, Flags [none], bridge-id 801e.00:11:5c:62:fe:80.8041, length 42
15:00:51.493154 IP 10.1.1.254.33923 > 10.1.1.1.http: Flags [S], seq 707324510, win 8760, options [mss 1460], length 0
15:00:51.493336 IP 10.1.1.1.http > 10.1.1.254.33923: Flags [S.], seq 3981707623, ack 707324511, win 65535, options [mss 1460], len                                                                                gth 0
15:00:51.493778 ARP, Request who-has 10.1.3.1 tell 10.1.3.254, length 46
etc...

I'm not sure if I've provided enough information, so please let me know if any more is necessary.

Thank you!