Question

HOW TO combine two NIC into one

Asked by: mbsadmin1

Hi,

There are two NICs in my server, these two NICs are identical with speed 1000M speed. I would like to create a virtual NIC to have 2000M speed, my questions are the followings:
1.) How to achieve this?
2.) Do I have to configure two ports in switch as well? How to do that (aggregation)?

Any information and help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Regards

John
 

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Asked On
2009-08-25 at 18:31:00ID24681875
Topic

Network Cards & Adapters

Participating Experts
3
Points
250
Comments
12

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Answers

 

by: KavostylinPosted on 2009-08-25 at 18:34:29ID: 25183815

Hi what make are the NICS.

I would suggest just setting up a simple SLB NIC team

SLB = Simple Load Balancing.

 

by: KavostylinPosted on 2009-08-25 at 18:35:17ID: 25183818

This is the easiest option as it requires no configuration on the switch side.

 

by: mutahirPosted on 2009-08-25 at 18:36:40ID: 25183825

the term is called Nic teaming

If you have a server with two nics, they should have provided you with nic teaming drivers/utility

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Networking/Windows_Networking/Q_22928473.html

 

by: giltjrPosted on 2009-08-25 at 18:40:43ID: 25183839

Normal NIC teaming without any special switch configuration will give you 2 GB outbound, but only 1 GB inbound.

If you want full 2GB in both directions you need to link aggregation, which requires the switch to know about it.

 

by: KavostylinPosted on 2009-08-25 at 18:42:53ID: 25183847

This is correct. But if you also require fault tolerance Link Aggregation does not support nor provide this functionality...

 

by: giltjrPosted on 2009-08-25 at 18:51:49ID: 25183882

Well sort of it does.  If one NIC, cable, or port fails, the other NIC will still work.  Depending on the switch you get, some switches will support ling aggregation across switches configured in a cluster and will give you fault tolerance.

 

by: KavostylinPosted on 2009-08-25 at 18:53:49ID: 25183890

If you are suing Broadcom NICs then this is incorrect as the NDIS BACS driver does not support Failover on LinkAgg

 

by: giltjrPosted on 2009-08-25 at 19:37:20ID: 25184084

 

by: KavostylinPosted on 2009-08-25 at 19:42:32ID: 25184101

Its Switch dependant tho...

So if the Switches dont support it then it will not work.

Hence the reason why i would suggest SLB simple easy and effective.

 

by: giltjrPosted on 2009-08-25 at 19:48:40ID: 25184126

SLB is simple and easy and will provide 2Gb outbound, but if they require 2Gb inbound, SLB can not provide it.

Of course to get 2Gb in or out you need to have 1Gb+ every place and enable jumbo frames everyplace.

 

by: mbsadmin1Posted on 2009-08-25 at 21:44:21ID: 25184476

Hi all,

Many thanks for your information and help, I have succesfully configured the two NICs and two switch ports, please se the following:
1.) download an advanced driver for intelPro NIC (with team group function), removed existing driver and installed the new one on both NICs, and mannully configured 1000M/full duplex
2.) configured two ports with link-aggregation and mannully configured 1000M/full duplex.

Thanks again

Cheers

John

 

by: mbsadmin1Posted on 2009-08-25 at 21:45:55ID: 31620537

Hi all,

Many thanks for your information and help, I have succesfully configured the two NICs and two switch ports, please se the following:
1.) download an advanced driver for intelPro NIC (with team group function), removed existing driver and installed the new one on both NICs, and mannully configured 1000M/full duplex
2.) configured two ports with link-aggregation and mannully configured 1000M/full duplex.

Thanks again

Cheers

John

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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