Dual Network Connectors on Motherboards

[Aztech]

How's dual LAN work on a motherboard? What's the 2nd one for?

Thanks, I'm shopping for motherboards and didn't know.

 

[JackMDS]

During manufacturing it cost about 75cents to add the second NIC and it is a good marketing point.

The second NIC is part of the ?Bait? (buy it coz it has two, and we all know the two is better than one ), and then make them miserable approach, most enthusiasts are very miserable when they have a useless piece of hardware. (BTW, this question repeats every week at least once).

The second NIC can be used to connect the computer to two independent Networks and if necessary to bridge, or you want to use the computer as a Router using two NIC and software Router like Windows ICS.

Giving the way 98% of end users using their computers (with Cable/DSL Wireless Router), the second NIC is useless.

The dream, and hopes of most people who are Not savvy in Networking is that they can use the two NICs together to get more Network ?Speed? (Bandwidth).

Unfortunately it is just a dream; ?teaming? (combining two NICs) does not work with client OS and end-user hardware.

 

[Madwand1]

It's also a chance for you to waste some time. Many boards come with two different NICs, and so you might need two different drivers for them. And one's probably slower, so you get to have the fun of deciding which one to use and often picking the wrong one (if it matters).

I have a server board here with dual on-board NICs, and one of them is slower than the other (and the fast one is the second one, so I guess the first is sort of a "a-ha, gotcha" or something :|).

 

[Aztech]

Thank you gents, I won't waste time looking for this feature then. Good Day!

 

[mxnerd]

Unfortunately it is just a dream; ?teaming? (combining two NICs) does not work with client OS and end-user hardware.

It does, as long as the driver support it. You don't need sever OS, XP can do it. Intel Pro 1000 does support it, Broadcom too. Unfortunately, most motherboards that giving away dual ethernet is based on RealTek, and don't expect it has any teaming function.

The fact is, if you want to have teaming function, buy a server grade motherbaord with dual ethernet, or buy a server grade ethernet card with dual ports, or 2 server grade ethernet card.

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: mxnerd
The fact is, if you want to have teaming function, buy a server grade motherbaord with dual ethernet, or buy a server grade ethernet card with dual ports, or 2 server grade ethernet card.

But it might require a managed switch that supports link aggregation, and it still won't improve the performance of single file transfers on a home network, so is still a big waste of time and effort and potentially money for the typical home user.

 

[mxnerd]

In most cases, having more than one ethernet port is for routing or bridging purpose like what JackMDS said. And yes, for ordinary home user, it's just redudant.

 

[Arcanedeath]

Most of the Marvel Yukon series NIC's onbarod support it too w/ how cheap Intel Pro 1000PT PCI-E 1x NICs are I just go w/ those and ignore onboard.