Same or Different subnet for two NIC adapters at the same node

[yoramb]

I have to apologies first, I may be showing some ignorance here, but I'm struggling with a subnet dilemma.
I intend to develop an autonomic system based on a LAN (Layer2 switch) without any external connection!!! The system includes 3 or 4 nodes actually the constraint here is to use Win7 computers. Each computer (SBC) uses two adapters for the GbE communication (TCP or UDP IP protocols) and finally I want to point that the performance is the main issue here (i.e. Short latency between the sender node to the receiver node)
The dilemma…
If ,for example, I defined all the Net adapters under the same subnet (As I mentioned earlier, two adapters for each node).

1. Which adapter will be selected for a simple Tx communication? 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?

…mm…..mm…..
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).
3. Is this a wise decision?
4. Is it effective way for Load-Balancing ? Means, juggling from one subnet to another according with the load level.

Willing for your suggestion 
Thanks.
Yoram B.

 

[JackMDS]

I have the feeling that you are unaware that thought the Configuration Menu of each NIC includes all of this wonderful entries (TX, RX etc.), most of these entries are Not applicable to most regular Network configuration setting.

Without a Diagram that shows in details the topology that you try to achieve it hard to fully understand what you have and what you want to achieve.

In any case, such configuration needs in the network at least one real OS Server. A switch that can support load-balancing and NICs with drivers that can support it as well.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb742455.aspx



P.S. Please do not open additional Threads on the same subject.

 

[yoramb]

Thanks for your advice.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

If i understand you correctly, you are going to connect a single device, with 2 network cards to the same layer 2 subnet. You are wondering how traffic will flow?

If that is the case, your metric will be used to determine which card will send, this goes by link speed and number, or you can override it in TCP/IP properties, the lower the higher the priority.

If you want to load balance you will need to team the adapters and have a switch that supports lacp or PAGP as well or it will not work.