Why do mobos have 2 ethernet cards?

[Cares]

I am confused. Is it so you can be on 2 networks at once? Or so you can hookup a laptop via crossover? What is a practical use of 2 ethernet ports on many motherboards nowadays?

 

[Blain]

If you have a broadband connection and want to network with another PC, what would be an easy way to do that?

 

[Cares]

Can't you do that with a router which almost everyone has already?

 

[StrangerGuy]

Originally posted by: AlphaQ
Can't you do that with a router which almost everyone has already?

The manufacturers want their motherboards to have a "special" but in reality, a mostly useless feature over the compeition to impress those DIY noobs.

In my opinion.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I use mine to access a network not connected to the internet, and the other to connect to a network that is, your average user isn't going to NEED dual lan (or even more than that), however there are some who need it, like me.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: AlphaQ
Can't you do that with a router which almost everyone has already?

Add a poll to this thread and see.

 

[TomKazansky]

lol ^

 

[Acert93]

Some server farms offer dual LAN setups for larger servers that have large burstable bandwidth needs. This could also be used in a rack setup to allow machines direct access to eachother. e.g. if you have a web server and a SQL Server the second LAN could be used to hook them up directly.

And as others stated, with MB Firewalls now onboard, for small home networks they can skip the router and hook 2 computers up and still have a firewall without a router. Not a solution for everyone, but it is passable I guess.

 

[phisrow]

The laptop over crossover feature is somewhat handy, especially for people who have a GBe laptop and motherboard; but older 10/100 network infrastructure. Other than that, though, it is basically tinsel. Probably the cheapest "serious server" feature that it is possible to add, especially those where they use the GBe port from the chipset and slap some generic 10/100 on a secondary port. Given, though, that perfectly decent network silicon is so cheap these days that the PCB is a good percentage of the cost of a network card it is hard to be terribly upset at the inclusion. Basic home setups don't really need the second port; but it is a nice toy for doing semi-serious stuff on the cheap. After all, if it weren't for the secondary integrated port, one would have to buy an ethernet adapter for the NAS box(es) and/or the Openmosix cluster!

 

[fuzzynavel]

if you have 2 gigabit lan ports then I doubt your router would be made to handle those sort of speeds... so connect one port to router for internet use and the other to another pc in the home network for large file transfers such as movies and stuff....or databases if you are that way inclined!

 

[Anonemous]

bridge two DSL lines for double the POWA!

 

[BurnItDwn]

Dual lan is nice for a Nat/Ip Masq box .... however, if it only comes with a single Lan you can asways spend $5 on a NIC ....

 

[ribbon13]

2 Ethernet is cheap to add, and doesn't take up a slot.

 

[NetDevil]

Call me stupid but a personatly need 3 lan cards . One to connect to internet, one to connect to a lan far away, one to connect to my brothers` computer in the same room as mine.

 

[tallman45]

1) if you use the PC as a DMZ firewall
2) have an ethernet printer (Jetdirect)

 

[imported_Beavis]

Another good thing for dual Network Cards

You can use it for a network Attached Storage Device

 

[Mutilator]

A lot of times you'll see the motherboard has 1 10/100 and 1 Gigabit port. Others have 2 of the same in which case 1 can go to a LAN and another the WAN or it can be used as a router using something like Smoothwall.
I'm loving my smoothwall box vs my old Linksys router, but ofcourse it has 2 regular NICs in it... not dual onboard.