Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems include a first host device determining that a first packet from a first virtual machine (VM) within the first host device is to be transmitted to a second VM on a second host device and that the first host device and the second host device each transmit or receive packets via ports within a first link aggregation group (LAG). In response to determining that the first host device and the second host device each transmit or receive packets via ports within the first LAG, the first host device transmits the first packet from a first synchronization port of the first host device to a second synchronization port of the second host device. The first and second synchronization ports are excluded from sharing a common LAG with any ports of another host device.