multiple port ethernet card

[TechBoyJK]

Does anybody know of any decent, multiple port ethernet cards available? I was thinking of 2-4 instead of just a single one. Each port could be recognized as an adapter..... Is this feasible? Error in concept? Anybody? I was just thinking that with the advent of gigabit ethernet, pci express, and motherboards with a really fast bus, that this might be a good idea, and could save a lot of space too.

 

[gaidin123]

Intel makes a full line of very good, multi port ethernet adapters. I believe 3Com has some as well. Intel has 32/64 bit PCI 1, 2, and 4 port 100Mbit and gigabit ethernet cards.

I stumbled across this while looking for embedded systems. For $95 you get a 4 port 10/100 Via Rhine PCI adapter.

Unfortunately I haven't seen anyone put out any multi port PCI Express ethernet cards yet and none of the major manufacturers aside from Broadcom (?) have mentioned much at all about gigabit PCIe NICs. If buying a cheapo realtek 100mbit or gigabit ethernet card costs under $15 it'd be very nice to find a cheap supplier of 10/100/1000 multiport PCI and PCIe NICs. Unfortunately the only large market for that seems to be servers where money is less of an object and where you generally wouldn't be using cards powered by realtek, via, or other cheaper chipsets.

Gaidin

 

[spidey07]

intel

 

[VirtualLarry]

I've seen some nice 4-port 10/100 cards powered by Intel/DEC 2114x chipsets. I think that both Intel and Adaptec make or made them. I saw one last year at a computer show for $30 as surplus. There are also some other cards, that are a single-port host ethernet controller, but also contain an integrated 4-port hub/switch.

 

[cmetz]

The quad-Tulip (21140 or 43 with a 21150 or 52 bridge) are common and well supported, see EBay to get them cheap. There are also quad 82559 boards based on a 21150/52 bridge. I've also used quad-Sundance D-Link boards (the DFE-580TX).

Intel makes two and four port gigabit boards, the two port isn't terribly expensive. The four port gig board will not work in a normal 32 bit / 33 MHz PCI slot, FYI.

gaidin123, that place you linked to sells quad-Rhine and quad-MACPhyter boards. Both controller chips are pretty mediocre. You'd be better off finding a quad Tulip off EBay IMO.

Intel got Digital Semiconductor somewhere in the HPaq merger, and the Tulip was at that point a red headed stepchild - Intel would rather obviously prefer you use their homegrown controller chips. The Tulip chips dried up fast except in specialty applications.

 

[tungtung]

I got one from eBay ... cost me $10 ... it's a Compaq/HP NC3131

It came by default as a 2 port network card, but is upgradeable to 4 port 10/100 ethernet ... or 2 port 10/100 and 1 port Gigabit ... the upgrade came in modules ...

Look in eBay for similar models ... I believe there are lots of these around in eBay ... not sure about retail stores though ...