Windows and bandwidth utilization

[Zugdud]

Greetings, I have a windows 2003 file server that serves files used by 10 users and is connected to our switched network at 100mb.

2 of the users need faster connections (3d modeling) so I added 2 1000mb nics to the server and connected each workstation (who also have 1000mb cards) with an individual wire. So now theres 3 nics on the server and the share is assisable ofcourse through any one of the connections. 2 1000mb cards each going to seperate users and 1 100mb card going to the rest of the network. Now heres my question:

Each card has a seperate IP, I am referencing the shares on the 2 workstations by the ip address of the 1000mb connection so I assume it will utilize the gigabit connection rather then go over the 100mb connection?

Workstations: Windows XP pro
Server: Windows 2003 Server

Thanks for any help!

 

[FaiTHLeSS]

If they are connected dirrectly to the 1gb nics then they will only use the 1gb nics. It might not utilize the card to a 100% just to leave room for other taffic it it will use most of it.

I wouldnt be looking for a slow down on the network side but rather on the preforamce of your harddrives on the server. This is where you would most likely see any preformace degrade. If you have all 10 people sending files at the same time you will see a slow down. So make sure you have highend drives on your server otherwise there is really no point in have 1gb nics.

 

[Zugdud]

Thanks mabey I didn't make a whole lot of sense. Each workstation will be connected with 2 routes to the server. They will each have a 1gb connection as well as 100mb, just want to make sure that if they access a share which is assessible through both routes it will always use the 1gb route. The only reason i'm bothering with the 1gb connection is because they move files back and forth that are serveral gigs on a daily basis

 

[raztaboule]

if the wins associates the netbios name of the stations with the IP on 100M I will says that you are using both the 1000M ( station to server ) and the 100M ( when server respond ).
But i'm not really sure.... when i test it here it works like that. But am'I doing the same test than you ?
you should load ethereal on the server , and then initiate a communication from the station and see what happens.


Bye.

 

[bcastner]

With automatic metrics it should always prefer the faster route.

 

[raztaboule]

if both card hold and ip in the same sunet , but it's not the case here , is it ?
if not , the server will respond on the card holding the route that should be use for the ip that match netbios name of the workstation. 100M card seem to be connected on the "primary" network so i supposed that the workstation is known by the wins with the ip hold on the 100M card. and so server will respond on that network.