Can 4 nic cards share 1 IP address? 2

[MattSavage]

I am not sure if what I want to do is possible, but I think there should be a way. I have 2 Win2k servers that each have a dual nic setup. I am using these as FTP servers, one as the primary and one as a backup server. Here is what I want to do:

Our FTP DNS entry points to x.x.x.100

Server 1 nic 1 has address of x.x.x.100
Server 1 nic 2 has address of x.x.x.101
Server 2 nic 1 has address of x.x.x.102
Server 2 nic 2 has address of x.x.x.103

If Server 1 nic 1 goes down, I would like nic 2 to accept traffic that should go to nic 1.

If Server 1 completely goes down, Server 2 should handle the traffic for x.x.x.100. If a nic goes down on Server 2, the other should be able to maintain the traffic.

I have tried to give multiple addresses to each nic, adding x.x.x.100 to all of them as a secondary IP, but that has not worked. Can this be accomplished? Is there software or hardware that will allow IP cascading like this? Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

 

[ChrisAC]

Why not just create 4 DNS records so that connections will be load balanced (round robin styley) to each NIC.

ftp.yourcompany.com xxx.xxx.xxx.100
ftp.yourcompany.com xxx.xxx.xxx.101
ftp.yourcompany.com xxx.xxx.xxx.102
ftp.yourcompany.com xxx.xxx.xxx.103

Chris.


**********************
Chris Andrew, CCNA, CCSA
chris@iproute.co.uk
**********************

 

[MattSavage]

If I do that will an ftp connection always hit x.x.x.100 first, and if that is down then 101, and so on incrementally?

 

[bcastner]

See this set of links discussing Network Load Balancing. Note that this is a feature of Win2k Advanced Server:

http://www.labmice.net/networking/NLB.htm

 

[MattSavage]

The 2 servers are running Windows 200 Server, not Advanced Server. However I do have an Advanced Server CD with available licenses. Can I install NLB from this CD?

Also, I am not really looking to distribute traffic eveny among the servers. I want to use x.x.x.100 primarily at all times, and in case of failure traffic will then be cascaded down the line.

 

[Serbtastic]

You need to set up clustering, and cluster the x.x.x.100 address across the 2 servers. For that you will need to use W2K AS, as W2K server does not support clustering.

 

[MattSavage]

I cannot use NLB because I cannot install W2k AS without reformatting my current servers. Reformatting is not an option. I tried to see if I could install NLB as an add-on component using the W2k AS cd but I could not do so. Is NLB the only option, or is there any other software out there that can do this?

 

[Serbtastic]

Legato's Co-StandbyServer application can cluster IPs, disks, applications. Check out

http://www.legato.com

for more info.

 

[AV1611]

If your NIC cards support Teaming, you can use 2 Cards with 1 IP. And I believe that some Cards and "Switchs" will let you use more than 2 on a Team. However, the NICS and the Switch have to support Teaming in order for this to work.

AV

 

[rn4it]

Some switches allow for load balancing, I'm currently working on Switch assisted Server Load balancing using Extreme Switches. I'll be taking care of load balancing based on lease connection, right off the switch.

Just an idea

 

[MattSavage]

OK.....I reformatted my 2 servers and installed W2k AS. Network Load Balancing appears under the LAN connection properties list. I tried to configure a Cluster Service, but I am receiving an error because I am using RAID 5. Can I use RAID and Clustering together?

 

[Serbtastic]

What is the exact error you are receiving?

 

[MattSavage]

I found the answer to this problem. There is a program called NIC Express that allows you to create an array of nic cards, and the array uses only 1 IP address. If one NIC goes dows, the connection is not lost.

As far as the clustering goes, I cannot create a cluster because I do not have an external storage device which is needed to create a cluster.

Thanks everyone for your help!