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Improving network perf. with 2 NICs

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by psx 1 view

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The server I am administering is running Windows NT 4.0 SP6a
It has two built-in Network cards. I disabled one when I installed the server. Now I would like to enable the other one and have it balance the traffic going in and out of the server or possibly separating the traffic to each network card so that all logon requests go to one NIC and everything else go to the other NIC.

I have read a couple of articles and found one on Microsoft's site that addresses this issue(Q197991).

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q197/9/91.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=wlbs&rnk=2&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=SBS

It mentions the use of WLBS (Windows NT Load Balancing Service). I haven't checked the available services on my server but I am sure WLBS is included.

The reason I am posting this question is to gain more information about how to make effective and efficient use of the second NIC.

8 replies

by tony.colgrove

WLBS is for load balancing across multiple servers not NICs. Depending on your mfg of the server it might include NIC teaming software (Two NICs, one IP).
Also you can check out IPMetrics.com (NIC Express), they have dual NIC software that does NIC teaming.
Your other options are to use two IP addresses and make it a "multi-homed" machine, but I think teaming is the way to go.

by tony.colgrove

By segmenting he means put each NIC on a different IP subnet. By cutting your IP network in half you reduce broadcasts. In theory this does not provide load balancing because you would have to physically divide your heavy users up between the subnets.
When you multihome on the same subnet, WINS will alternate IPs address per request. ie. First WINS lookup sends 1 IP address, next query would receive 2nd IP address.

by psx

Thanks guys.

It looks like I'm going to setup my server to multihome. My network isn't that big so I do not feel the need for segmentation, plus, we already do have a second subnet for a remote branch.

I have also downloaded IPMetric's NIC Express. I will setup my server to multihome first and see how that goes. Then, if I still see a need for further tweaking, I will use NIC Express.

Again, thanks for all your help guys.

- Khai

by csmith

Have you considered segmenting?
This cuts CPU load over teaming, and also reduces collisions. (Raises efficiency.)
Regards, Chris

by csmith

Tony, in the above comment, forgets to mention that, the addition of the NIC card essentially doubles the I/O rate of the server to the LAN, because, usually, the data rate of the network cable is the choke point, not the server.
Yes, you do physically divide your heavy users between subnets. (LANs)
Segmenting can be thought of as a form of hardwired load balancing, when using a single server, with the advantage if the higher I/O.
Regards, Chris

by psx

Thanks for pointing out that WLBS is for multiserver load balancing. However, when I read this article http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q197/9/ 91.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=wlbs&rnk=2&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_ SRCH&SPR=SBS

I did not see any mention of a second server being used. Could WLBS be used to team up NICs?

Another question, if I turn my server into a multi-homed server, I would then have to reconfigure all network clients to point to one IP for a particular service (most likely WINS) and everything else to the other IP right? How is this accomplished? Is there a guide somewhere?

To Chris: what is segmenting?

Thanks for all your help,

- Khai

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