Win2000 pro, using 2 nics as 1

[mbarnett]

perhaps someone can help me?

i've got two systems:

dell 166 64mb ram
2 intel 100Mbps nics
* both hooked via crossover cables to my bp6
2 3com 10Mbps nics
* 1 hooked to my cable modem
* 1 hooked to my 10/100 hub
system is used as a router, firewall, fileserver, print server, dhcp server

bp6 2 500's 256mb ram
2 netgear 100Mbps nics
* both hooked via crossover cables to my dell
1 3com 10 Mbps nic
* hooked to my 10/100 hub

i have all the nics setup correctly and would liike to know how to setup the 100Mbps nics to allow them top be used in tandem instead of a failover config. any ideas?

 

[fivepesos]

with linux you may do equal cost multipath routing. with the multipath option enabled in 2.2.x or 2.4.x kernels this works. once compiled all you need to do is add two default routes. if both interface are statically assigned, "route add default gw XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX" for each ip. this would alternate packets to each device. however, this would also make the bp6 machine your default route. besides, i dont think your running linux, huh? of youre not running linux then i dont believe you can do it.

 

[mbarnett]

thought i'd bring this up again, both pcs are running win2000 pro and i would like to know how to setup both 100Mbps nics in each pc connected via crossover cables so that theoretically i can get 400Mbps full duplex bandwidth. is there any software that can help me do this under win 2000 pro. i know linux can do this, and i know that various companies put dual and quad port nics that can do this, but linux is not an option since i need to be able to run windows apps native(vmware is horribly slow still on my system, perhaps not yours) and i can not afford $1000+ for dual or quadport nics, ie the poor mans solution.

thanks for your help,
mbarnett

 

[dukenukem]

I don't think your 166 Dell could really put any more on the PCI bus than 1 100Mbs ethernet card could support anyway.

Specificly what are you trying to accomplish that you are trying to speed up?

What throughput do you get today with one working?

 

[fivepesos]

<< thought i'd bring this up again, both pcs are running win2000 pro >>


this would be the first time youd mention u ran windows

just try plugging each nic into the corresponding nics on the other box. set each device to use the other as its default route (gateway in windows terminology), and hope windows doesnt apply preference to one nic. this should alternate sessions between nics, assuming it doesnt apply preference (which i believe it does).

cheap nics from reliable company, dont know what it can do
Dual NIC halfway down page $61