2 network connection acting as one

[optimadam]

Hi, i have windows homer server. which is basicly server 2003.

I was just wondering it its possible to join two network connection so they act as one.

I dont mean like bridging two different networks. The 2 lines come from the same router into the computer and when you try to connect to one it will use one or the other depending on traffic?

I cant see it being possible unless the router does load balancing but i thought i would see.

[KingDaveRa]

If you're talking about bonding interfaces on the server, so it effectively gives you 200Mbs, then you can do that, but it relies on the cards supporting it. Sometimes it can be done in software, but ultimately it's a driver thing (yes, I know that's software too... you know what I mean).

Higher-end Intel server cards, and HP cards will do it. They come with software to set it all up.

You're probably better off going gigabit though, unless you already have :)

[optimadam]

i already have 1 intel gigabit port but i was think of throughing another ethernet card in. I have some 100 kicking around.

i cant find any support about the gigabit tho, its the intel 1000 PL. So im guessing it might not be possible

[KingDaveRa]

Unless you're after some sort of resilience, adding that extra card probably isn't going to get you anyway. Ordinarily, you need identical cards anyway, as they have to team up and handle stuff together.

[Portia]

For intel, you need at lease one server card. I assume it's the same with HP.

What are you after, throughput or resiliance? Is this a home or corporate network, what kind of stuff are you planning on serving and finally, what kind switch are you connecting to (or is it built into a home router)?

Although I do suspect KingDave is correct and simply binding your cards wont give you the results you are after...

[KingDaveRa]

I have a feeling the switch needs to be aware too?

You don't need to configure anything, but your average Netgear something-or-the-other might not be able to hack it.

[AdamR]

The built in stuff on 2003 for load balancing won't get you 2 GBit transfers by using both cards. From what I've seen it's more for spreading multiple connections across the 2 cards, so connections get dynamically shifted onto the card with the least load (not using 2 cards for 1 logical link to double speed).

[Portia]

If you have a proper NLB aware switch, you get full load balancing and fault tolerance.

If the switch isn't NLB aware, it goes into a round-robin mode, where the cards just take in in turn to service the requests. For lots of small requests, e.g. web, it works quite well.

Some switches will work with this without a problem, some will just keep trying to update their 'routing' tables and go into meltdown.

[KingDaveRa]

Ah, thought as much.

Only done it at work, and when you consider it's going into 3500 series Ciscos or a 6513, it's all Just Worked.

Which by Cisco's standard, is actually quite good ;)