IP Subnet definition on two network adapters (On a single computer)

[yoramb]

I have a question about IP subnet definition on two network adapters installed on a single stand-alone computer.
Actually the issue, whether to define them under the same subnet or a different subnet?
Few hints about the network I planning to build:
1. Based on 3 to 4 Win7 computers.
2. All the computers based on the same hardware (Haswell I7 CPU).
3. The network is totally separated from the outside world (Stand-alone network system).
4. Intensive messaging among the computers. Although the exact routes cannot be determined at this point (So, it has to be a flexible solution).
5. The load balancing is very important!
6. All the connections are wired via a Layer II switch (i.e. without any IP management).

Appreciate your suggestions
Thanks.
Yoram B.

 

[riahc3]

I have a question about IP subnet definition on two network adapters installed on a single stand-alone computer.
Actually the issue, whether to define them under the same subnet or a different subnet?
Few hints about the network I planning to build:
1. Based on 3 to 4 Win7 computers.
2. All the computers based on the same hardware (Haswell I7 CPU).
3. The network is totally separated from the outside world (Stand-alone network system).
4. Intensive messaging among the computers. Although the exact routes cannot be determined at this point (So, it has to be a flexible solution).
5. The load balancing is very important!
6. All the connections are wired via a Layer II switch (i.e. without any IP management).

Appreciate your suggestions
Thanks.
Yoram B.

A diagram of what you want (or think you want) would be nice

That being said 1 and 2 really don't matter or mean anything to what you are asking.

3 tells me if you want to separate this from the WAN side. Have you thought about VLANs? They will give you a stand alone network without more additional physical cost.

4 again is irrelevant but by messaging, what exactly do you mean?

You are mixing up ideas and tossing everything in a bundle: If this is a standalone network with its own standalone equipment, why load balance? UNLESS you are talking VLANs....but it wouldn't make any sense if its a standalone network.

I think the most interesting part of your post is the Layer 2 switch part; This does bring up the issue of load balancing as performance issues caused by broadcasts can slow down everything. That being said, a 4 PC network seems extreme small to me.

Make a diagram of what you want and it may clear some things up.

 

[seepy83]

Read through this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_aggregation

At a minimum, you're going to need a switch that supports Link Aggregation, and I think you'll need to use a Windows Server OS. There may be ways to do implement it (via NICs/Drivers) on the Client (Windows 7) OS, but I'm not familiar with it.

 

[azazel1024]

Intel's drivers include link aggregation on the client side. Windows 8/8.1 includes effective link aggregation through SMB3/3.01...so you don't have to worry about drivers and you also don't have to worry about your switch supporting link aggregation either (as its software defined, not network layer defined). Of course that is ONLY true for SMB, not for anything else network related (in which case, you are back to needing the OS or drivers to support true link aggregation as well as the switch).

Use the same subnet for all adapters and all machines. If they are on different subnets the OS/drivers won't be able to effectively balance traffic between the subnets (AFAIK).

 

[yoramb]

Thank u guys helping me with this dilemma.
To be sure I understand the point. If ,for example, I defined all the Net adapters under the same subnet (As I mentioned earlier, two adapters for each node). And as a constraint, I must use Win7 OS for all the 4 computers in the LAN (Physically no WAN connection).
The questions that arise …
1. What is the preferred adapter to send for example, a UDP message (Set of datagrams) is it A or B ? What is the sense behind this decision?
2. At the next time (i.e. Next transmission to the same destination) Does the Win7 OS might use the other Net adapter? If so, what is the rule behind this decision made? Is it balance-load matter?


In the other hand, It seems that, If I will use a different subnet for each adapter I can implicitly select the Tx adapter (While I send a message from one node to another). Is this a wise decision? Is it effective way for Load-Balancing ? Means, juggling from one subnet to another according with the load level.

Just to make sure, it is a physically separated LAN connected with a Layer2 switch.
No VLAN involved and the performance is the main issue here. The target system I intend to build must be autonomic without any human touch.