Utilizing the 2nd NIC on a server - Will speed increase? 1

[mdcr1]

We have two NICs on a W2K3 server, one of which is not being used. Will plugging into that second NIC increase the speed of users' connections (will it allow quicker file transfers because it spreads out requests across both NICs)? Since it's a server, should the IP be set to static like the other NIC, or DHCP? Is there any downside to plugging in the second network card? I'm trying to research but a lot of results deal with adding a second NIC to a desktop...Thanks!

 

[AW78]

You need som teaming software to created a 3rd virtual NIC, then the bandwidth is spread across the two card. The virtual NIc gets the detaisl that the orignal nic had for its IP address etc.

HP do one as do intel.

Allen White MCSE,MCSA,MCITP,MCTS,CCA,CCSP,VCP

http://techieshelp.com

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[58sniper]

Your switch needs to support it as well. Some switches don't like it.


Pat Richard MVP
Plan for performance, and capacity takes care of itself. Plan for capacity, and suffer poor performance.

http://www.ucblogs.net/blogs/exchange/

 

[GrimR]

I enabled my second NIC on all my servers with static IP's [part of your question] done this once, then removed and disabled it, as my network browser service on the DC's decided they should relinquish this task to anybody else on the network, so XP machines etc started claiming the rights to the service, which as you can tell caused chaos as no one could browse or see any computers via my network places.


MCITP:EA/SA, MCSE, MCSA, MCDBA, MCTS, MCP+I, MCP

 

[mdcr1]

We are using the HP Network Configuration Utility on these servers, and it looks like it finds the NICs, allows you to select them both and then the option to 'team' them shows up. Also, tried it while connected to DELL PowerConnect POE switches and it showed a speed of 200Mb (100Mb x 2), but then tried to move a server to use a Netgear 8-port switch - started reporting errors and didn't work out that well... Thanks for the tips!

 

[ancientcontra]

You will get double the speed with teaming outbound only. (if you choose that teamin option)

For inbound - to utilise the bandwidth on both nics, you need to create a port channel on your switch, which means the nics need to be plugged into the same switch, which means no redundancy - which is why most people team the nics.

Nick Cutting
MSCA CCNA A+ CCNP