Using Two NIC's in Xp Pro

[zeusfaber]

I understand that in Xp Pro one can use two NIC's and brigde them together to use them as one. Is this true and if so how do i do so?

 

[JackMDS]

Using two NICs is possible for Internet sharing (software NAT) in Win98se, Win2000, and Win XP.

Two NICs can not be "bonded? to double Internet bandwidth.

As oppose to the previous OS?, Win XP added a general bridging capacity; the following is an edited exerts from the bridging explanation in Win XP Help information.

Network Bridge overview

The Network Bridge provides an inexpensive and easy way to connect network segments. For example, suppose you have three computers: computer A, computer B, and computer C. Computer A has two Ethernet network adapters, and computers B and C have one Ethernet network adapter each. An Ethernet cable connecting A to B would create one network segment. An additional Ethernet cable connecting A to C would create a network segment.

Traditionally, if you want to have a network that has more than one segment, you have two options: routing or bridging. IP routing is a common solution for connecting network segments. However, to set up for IP routing you need either to buy hardware routers or set up the computers at the junctions between segments to operate as routers. IP routing requires difficult configurations for IP addressing for each computer on each network segment, and each network segment needs to be configured as a separate subnet. IP routing is a good solution for large networks, where scalability is important.

The network bridge, in contrast, allows you to connect network segments by selecting the appropriate network connection icons and clicking Bridge Connections. Similar buttons allow you to enable the bridge and add connections to it. The network bridge manages your network segments, and creates a single IP subnet for the entire network. There is no configuration required, and you do not need purchase additional hardware such as routers or bridges. IP addressing, address allocation, and name resolution is highly simplified in a single subnet IP network. (End of quote).

 

[zeusfaber]

thanx for the info

 

[JustinLerner]

Yes NIC's can be be bridged, but part of your question did not really describe bridging.

When two NIC's are 'linked' together to provide the total bandwidth of two NIC's as though it were one, this is called teaming or bonding, some people call it trunking. But I suppose, each is a little different in terminology and actual implementation and use.

NIC adapter teaming CAN allow both NIC's to do the following (at least my Intel NIC's can):
adaptive load balancing (which most closely does what you want without extra hardware);
or Etherchannel link aggregation, which is what you want to do; and then finally adaptive fault tolerance. Usually, these features are not able to combine together.

The Intel implementation of Etherchannel works in either of in two forms: the standard CISCO implementation of 802.3ad and the Intel version of Fast Etherchannel. Both of these implementations require special switches that have 802.3ad capability (for the standard) of if the Intel version of Fast Etherchannel is to be used, an Intel switch that works seamlessly with the teamed (I guess you say 'bonded' NIC's). Yes, 4 NIC's teamed together in an Etherchannel respond like 800Mbps (full duplex).

Teaming of NIC's requires special software and/or drivers to make them function as such. My NIC's will team in NT4 through XP. As the previous post reveals, bridging is also possible in XP (built into the OS), but this is different from 'teaming', bonding or linking NIC's together.