RedHat 9 File Server Dual Card - How to configure?

[ramani]

Hi

I am installing a file server - SAMBA - and for performance sake, want to add two network card 10/100 TCP/IP Lan cards. REDHAT LINUX version 9 downloaded and CD burnt version.

1. There is no problem in identifying the card or its drivers. I could see eth0 and eth1. They are of same brands.

2. The cards are provided with static IP addresses..
192.168.10.1 & .2 with 255.255.255.0 sub net mask.

3. There is only one work group. It is only for performance, the second card is added.

4. I set up two difefrent user computers for trial purpose and connected using two different hubs.

I could see the shares using any one of the LAN cards. But not both at the same time. With both the cards put and connected using different Hub/Switches, I could ping from any one computer .. both the IP addresses while the other computer fails to ping.

Obviously, the eth0 and eth1 though indicate different devices of ethernet lan card, they behave like 'alias'.

Where am i going wrong ? I know I am doing something silly.
Could some one help me with a step by step guide. The installation is at a trial stage and so no problems to experiment with the systems. Could some expert guide me thru ? (As said earlier no problems with only one card installed. Only the dual card is not connecting.).

Thanks in advance.

ramani
(Subramanian.G),FoxAcc, ramani_g@yahoo.com

 

[ramani]

Hi

This issue remains unsolved and though I kept two cards, the one remains unused. If a config solution is available, I can start using two cards. Any one can help out ?


ramani
(Subramanian.G),FoxAcc, ramani_g@yahoo.com

 

[fluid11]

It sounds like your trying to load balance your NICs. In order for this to happen, you need 2 identical NICs that support this feature, and you'll need software installed on the server to enable it.

At my current job, we do this with Compaq servers using Compaq server NICs and software. The NICs are connected to Cisco Catalyst switches with FastEtherchannel groups enabled for the 2 NICs on the switch. This effectively doubles the bandwidth to 400Mbs (200 per NIC using full duplex times 2).

ChrisP

 

[ramani]

Hi

Load balancing.. yes in a way. But without software or such things. The way I do it, is just dividing the trafic thru two Switches.

Some.. let us say.. Computers 1,2,3 connected thru HUB1
and say computers 4,5,6,7,8, connected thru HUB2.
The servers one NIC connected to hub1 and the other card conncted to HUB2.

My present situation is that only ONE HUB gets working, and the second one is not working.

I was able to setup two NICS and such configuration under Windows OS. But dont know under Linux.




ramani
(Subramanian.G),FoxAcc, ramani_g@yahoo.com

 

[nix45]

I personally don't see a need for this. IMO, your much better off removing one of the NICs and replacing the 2 hubs with a single switch.

If you want to fix the problem anyway, bring the NIC thats working down and see if you can communicate with HUB2.

ifconfig eth0 down

...and then try to ping a host sitting on HUB2.

ChrisP

 

[nix45]

...by the way, this is fluid11. I'm sitting at a different computer and forgot to log off before posting the last post.