Dual NICs share single IP address

[nekocat]

Can Win2k support dual NICs that share single IP address?
i.e. a single IP address will bind to one of the NICs, if any problem with this NIC, the IP address will bind to another NIC. This change is transparent to the application.

For UNIX, this configuration can be done, what about Win2k? It may be helpful to prevent SPOF on the NIC.

Thanks.
Neko

 

[Shift838]

yes, this function is called NIC Teaming.

 

[nekocat]

Hi Chris, would you mind telling me how to configure the NIC teaming?

Or you can also point me to some useful URL above this.

Thanks.

 

[nels]

Look on MS for WLBS.

 

[Shift838]

Here is a link. One thing to remember about NIC Teaming is that it does provide fault tolerance for network connectivity as you are needing, but the NIC Hardware must support NIC teaming. You can't just go out and buy a NIC and expect it to support NIC teaming. I now all newer compaq NICS for their servers support nic teaming..

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;254101

 

[MitchCumstein]

What brand of NICs are you using. I have used Intel's PROSet II software to team different vendors NICs (Intel & Broadcom).

You can get it here:

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/File_Filter.asp?FileName=PRO2KXP.EXE

 

[DonDavisFCB]

I have a related question. How do you monitor/manage these adapters? I need to email/page someone if an adapter fails.
I manage my network and servers with NetView and Tivoli DM.
NetView is going to see the IP Address is pingable unless both NICs fail. The only way I can see to manage both NICs is to SNMP query the oper status on the switch ports that they are plugged into and/or the oper status from the Compaq agent.
This adds a layer of complexity, while I am not sold on the benefits thereof.

Right now NetView is showing everything is fine.
However, an SNMP query indicates that an adapter is completely missing on one box and down on another box!
Teaming is broken on both boxes (database servers) and no one knows.
I plan to write some perl scripts to perform SNMP queries and generate SNMP traps as appropriate.

How do you do it?