Newbie Networking question! Regarding 2 networks on 1 PC

[duckdown]

Hi folks!

I currently have a setup like this:

EXAMPLE PIC

Essentially; 2 Cablemodems, each going through a router, which then connect to the 2 NIC ports in my PC.

My problem is; I keep enabling one and then disabling the other, inside of the NETWORK CONNECTIONS list in Windows XP, which is how I switch between them. But the problem with that is, when I hop onto CABLEMODEM 2 to do downloading, my XBMC and other computers on NETWORK 1 can no longer interact with the PC because I had to disable that ethernet port in Windows.

My question is, how can these both co-exist with eachother? When I do downloading on NETWORK 2 I hate how my XBMC which is on NETWORK 1 can no longer stream files from my PC because I had to disable NETWORK 1 in the Network Connections list.

Is there some kind of utility I can use for Windows, which will let me bind programs to a certain interface? IE: I load up uTorrent and bind it to my NETWORK 2 connection, but other computers from NETWORK 1 can still interact with the PC.

Sorry, its hard to explain, but hopefully someone can understand what I'm saying and figure out some kind of solution for me 🙁 It really is getting difficult and annoying to have to either pic ONLY one network or the other, I just want them both to work 🙁

Thanks, and please let me know if you have ANY suggestions!!!

Cheers

 

[MedicBob]

A server NIC might do it. Look for dual network cards, ie: both connections on one card or at least cards that allow it. HP, Compaq, and Intel make cards that do. They are expensive new, but can be found on eBay.

What exactly are you trying to do? Get better speed?

 

[duckdown]

Originally posted by: MedicBob
A server NIC might do it. Look for dual network cards, ie: both connections on one card or at least cards that allow it. HP, Compaq, and Intel make cards that do. They are expensive new, but can be found on eBay.

What exactly are you trying to do? Get better speed?

Hi there, nope, not looking for better speed, just the possibility to stream files over NETWORK 1 , while downloading on the NETWORK 2 cablemodem..

I want to watch TV over the server from my xbox, which is all on network 1, but want to do all my downloading of torrents and crap like that from the cablemodem thats on network 2

 

[Pwnbroker]

A lot of new motherboards already have dual gigabit lan built-in, such as the one in my signature. If that's not an option, then do what medicbob says.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: duckdown

Originally posted by: MedicBob
A server NIC might do it. Look for dual network cards, ie: both connections on one card or at least cards that allow it. HP, Compaq, and Intel make cards that do. They are expensive new, but can be found on eBay.

What exactly are you trying to do? Get better speed?

Hi there, nope, not looking for better speed, just the possibility to stream files over NETWORK 1 , while downloading on the NETWORK 2 cablemodem..

I want to watch TV over the server from my xbox, which is all on network 1, but want to do all my downloading of torrents and crap like that from the cablemodem thats on network 2

...is network 1 a LAN or something? Why do you have two cable modems?

If 'network 1' isn't attached to the Internet, it should be okay to have them both enabled -- requests for the local network should go to 'network 1', and WAN requests for the Internet will go to 'network 2'. At least if you have it set up right.

If you're using two cable modems for speed -- the real solution is a router that understands how to manage the connections as one, and probably a business account with your ISP.