Can I bind two NICs from Cable and DSL?

[Len]

I currently have cable which I am rather happy with and have a chance of getting DSL at a reasonable price. I was wondering how it is possible to bind these connections to receive a boost in the speed?

 

[Pauli]

I don't think you can combine the 2 bandwidths. I haven't heard of any operating system, software, or hardware device that would allow you to do this. I believe that your internet connection from your browser would be configured to use one or the other - not both. I'm not an expert on this, so someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

 

[Vegito]

Actually you can, I lost the software's website. I thought it was impossible also but you actually could. There is a company call fatpipe that makes a box using NT and their own software that does the same thing.

 

[dirtboy]

Yep, fatpipe does make a box that does that...heh, saw an ad for them in a magazine I was reading.

 

[Len]

Well the good news is that I think I found this Fatpipe company http://www.ragula.com/, but that's where it the good news ends. It seems that the version that I would need is a hardware solution called fatpipe xtreme and would cost me alomst $10,000. I'm not in the free-spending mood at the moment so I'll forgo on that "discount".

I wonder if there's something that is closer to free than that. I know there are freeware and shareware programs that will bind two or more dialup modems so I don't see why it would be all that much more difficult to make the concept work with a couple of broadband connections. I'll keep on searching.

 

[tim0thy]

i wonder if that fatpipe software works by creating a virtual IP where both bandwidths go into and well, let you use it...

 

[Bronko]

One possible problem:

All the bundling solutions use the same upstream connection. The Supra Shotgun modems required you to connect to the same ISP for example. This is because the ISP bundles the data from the two into one stream. If you bundle a DSL and Cable line, they would each have their own routing scheme, however close to the backbone it maybe. Not sure if I am making sense, but I can expound on this if you would like. Of course, I could be entirely wrong

 

[Len]

Bronko, I get what you're saying. If that's the case then so be it, but these Fatpipe people seem to have gotten it working somehow with totally different ISPs.

 

[Len]

^

 

[Bronko]

True, but there is a reason why it (FatPipe) cost so much. Solutions where you bundle modems going to the same point are basically free. Windows 98 and 2000 have this capability built in. Don't know what else to say, good luck.

 

[lanwanman]

Question... How much bandwidth do you need.. the DSL will only be you on the link to the CO.. so it's not like your current internet access.. Just running on one DSL.. you will see a boost in speed..

If needed.. you can share the bandwidth via a HUB connected to your Dsl link.

lanwanman.

 

[Len]

Lanwanman,

I'm not sure you understand what I'm getting at here. What I'm trying to do is not share the bandwidth (that I'm very comfortable with), but to bond two bandwidth providers to use as one failover solution.

 

[Len]

^

 

[Bronko]

Have you called your ISP(s) and see if they can recommend anything? Also, you may want to post this in some of the networking usenet groups.

 

[Len]

I'll give them a call later in the week. Thanks for the help.

 

[cz]

Try this software Midpoint Internet Gateway. It claims to do exactly what you wanted.

 

[WakeBdr]

Linux can bind two nics together to double the throughput. I have never done this but I have a friend who has done it. He gets 200Mbps on his box

 

[Len]

WakeBdr,

Could you please elaborate on that.

 

[Big Bwana]

what would happen if you instructed ie to use the cable modem to connect to the internet and netscape to use the dsl account?

it wouldn't neccessarily double your single instance throughput, but you would be able to use both connections to the fullest.

right?

BB

 

[ElDiablo]

It should be fairly easy to create some software that would arbitrate between the two connections, say by choosing cable for sender 1 and dsl for receiver 1 or some permutation of the two. Wouldn't necessarily double your thoroughput but how much bandwidth do you really need??

so, that's probably useless info except to say there has to be a company or two that has done it.

 

[AnimeKnight]

Hey Len I had the same idea just couple weeks ago... here is the link to the discussion
Click me
I lost the chance of getting that dsl deal.. so i didn't have the chance to try out any of the ideas that was discussed there.. if you have any luck please let me know.. cuz i wanna do it too