Tip for "teaming" Intel NIC's

[Ben]

I just messed with the NIC "teaming" with two Intel NIC's in NT 4.0 today. I figured I'd pass along my findings.

I found something interesting. The new Intel 4.0 drivers only allow the teaming for "server" adapters, not the desktop Pro100+ NIC's. I was pretty ticked off until I lucked out.

Luckily I had a copy some older drivers on an old CD-R and I was able to get my onboard 82559 and my 82559 card to "team" just fine. Then in another maching I was able to team two 82559 cards. Im not sure exactly what version they are. The readme file says version 3.8.1 but the ProSet window says 3.09. Either way, they work and the new ones don't.

It's pretty cool. I'm using them to "load balance" which basically gives me more bandwidth.

That's always a good thing.

 

[dr0p0ut]

good info. i am about to put 2 nic in one system to share the dsl connection. any tip?? the nic connection to dsl modem will be linksys(i think), other nic will be netgear 10/100 nic for the home network.

or should i go for the same nic for this setup

thx

dr0p0ut

 

[dirtboy]

I've been wanting to do that myself. I have the Intel switch and I'm waiting for the dual server adapter to show up. Should be pretty sweet!

 

[Ben]

Dropout, you can use either combo for what your planning.

Some people say that it's easier to set everything up if you use two different type cards, but I used two Linksys cards and it was still fairly simple.


Here's something else to add to the NIC teaming, I just tried using two NIC's in W2K on another machine and it won't let me team no matter what drivers I use.

....bummer

 

[pcmark]

Can you do this with one of those Compaq dual nics(with two ports on one card)? I have one sitting around.

 

[Herr Yunta]

Pcmark, you would need drivers that specifically support teaming, aka trunking.

I hope you guys realize that what Ben is talking about is utilizing two NICs to load balance or share a connection to a single network. A reason for this may be to lessen the load on the NIC, ie. with two, CPU utilization would be less. This instance typically occurs in a server that gets a fair amount of traffic.

One would not use teaming or trunking for sharing a broadband connection, they would have one NIC bound to the external network with the second to the internal, usually in a server running NAT.

 

[dr0p0ut]

thx for the info. i was sure that i dont know waht teaming really mean.
but i thought this is good thread to ask question about multi nic within
1 pc.. hehe.. i got answer to my question also learn something new..
i know there is a reason for me to stick around after all these year.. hehe

dr0p0ut

 

[Russ]

HMM...I have a dozen brand new Intel dual server Pro/100's laying here. Maybe I can actually do something with them.

Russ, NCNE

 

[RADON]

Russ,

Would you consider selling me one of those...

 

[bex0rs]

<< Compaq dual nics >>



IIRC, these actually use dual 82558 (or whatever) Intel chips and will work with Intel's latest drivers, fully supported and all

Oh, and don't bother trying to team your adapters unless you have a managed switch.

~bex0rs

 

[Ben]

You can team them with an unmanaged switch, but you will only get a benefit for data going from the computer to the switch, not the other way around.

That may not be good in all cases, but in my case, I have a small server feeding files to everyone so the increased outgoing bandwidth is a plus for me.

Someday when I have an extra $700 laying around I'll upgrade to a managed switch.