NIC Teaming

[TBONE917]

im new to this forum and couldnt find where i should post this... i am trying to use fail over for a server by putting two NIC cards in the server... the only problem is that the software we run is IP specific meaning I would like these two cards to share an IP address. Ive read some sites that say NIC teaming, or creating a virtual adapter out of 2 to 8 physical adapters, is the solution to put the two cards on the same subnet with the same IP address. Pretty much if one card fails, I want the other to be active with the same IP address. The computers will be running Windows 2000. Our current configuration consists of computers connected to a router which runs to two GigE switches. The plan is to cut out the router to save space and remove a point of failure. Any suggestions are welcome

 

[bcastner]

You are not going to get where you want to get with a single server. And there is no reasonable software solution. This is a hardware question.

The hardware side of things would require Win2k Advanced server with clustering. In the cluster farm you can assign fallback.

There are routers that would automaticly provide fallback as you suggest.

But no matter what you are not going to find much of use in looking at throwing multiple NICs in a single server. And you will get nowhere with multiple NICs given the same static IP.

 

[TBONE917]

So are you telling me that I can't put two NIC cards by the same manufacturer in one PC and have NIC teaming software either put the adapters in an active/inactive mode or load balance the incoming/ outgoing data

 

[bcastner]

No, I am not suggesting that. Intel and 3Com are two that offer in an Advanced Server, with Clustering, the ability to do teaming.

What I was suggesting is that with Win2k Server, not Advanced or Enterprise, and no cluster, the choice for you would be to look at the hardware router solutions available.

 

[TBONE917]

Oh ok thanks... could you clarify something for me... i was under the impression that clustering was having multiple computers act as a farm if not the same computer... is there any good place to starting learning about clusters

 

[bcastner]

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

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/top...en/ps4q01se_mscs?c=us&cs=RC956904&l=en&s=hied

Thats a start. Google "windows 2000 adapter teaming"

 

[mpennac]

TBONE917

Intel does offer a solution with their product that will provide NIC failover. The two or more NICs are setup as a team. They will send broadcasts out over the network using Ethertype 886D announcing their presents. If the backup NICs stop receiving the broadcasts from the primary NIC, they will kick into action. They will assume the same IP address as the primary NIC.

If you need more information as to part numbers and such, let me know.

mpennac

http://www.netprospecialists.com

 

[TBONE917]

thanks for responding mpennac... i know that few companies such as Intel and 3Com have come out with NICs to support teaming but I was interested in writing code that would allow my company to do that...find a way we could use NIC teaming without buying a slew of high end cards and software to support teaming. I was trying to find out if it was possible to write my own. If you have any idea how I would begin, or know any sites/books about how NICs process packets or NIC teaming, I would gladly appreciate it.