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Multihomed standalone Win2K

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by raffi_ 1 view

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I need to place a Win2K server on 2 different, physical, public accessible networks. Like so:

208.37.49.xxx
198.80.55.xxx

This is a web server and will be routed to by 2 different DNS boxes. All it has to do is respond to incoming http requests on each NIC and respond accordingly.

Why? We are transitioning several web sites to new IP's and want no down time.

I need to know:

1. Is this even possible?
2. How can we make this work?
3. Step-by-step

26 replies

by rgrowcock

I actually ran into a similar problem not to long ago. I had two separate public IP Addresses that pointed to a web server and an ftp server on the same machine. This worked pretty well for me with just assigning 2 NIC with static IP addresses andseparate Default gateways. Now if you want this computer to be on your local network to, you need to set the default gateway to your local network.
When you setup the external IP static addresses, you can name the DNS servers that you want this NIC to use. Hope this is helpful.
Roger

by raffi_

Thanks - Its nice to know it is *possible*. Please see my comments above.

by isys

Sure it is. Each network interface is configured separately. You configure each IP accordingly. Install each network adapter, right-click My Network Places, choose Properties, right-click each connection, choose properties, makd sure TCP/IP is installed on each, and configure.

by raffi_

I can get only 1 NIC to work at a time.

1. I disable both NICS and configure for each network.
2. Enable NIC1 - no problem. Responds as it should
3. Enable NIC2 - NIC1 dies immediately and NIC2 does not function. I've run a ping and watched itgo to "Request timed out" as soon as NIC2 is active.
4. Disable NIC1 and NIC2 stays down.
5. Disable NIC2 and re-enable - NIC2 responds perfectly.
6. Enable NIC1 and NIC2 dies immediately.

There are NO static routes in this box and it does notseem to matter whether I have no default gateway, a single default gateway, or a default gateway per NIC. There are no hardware conflicts.

Anyone seen behaviour like this before?

by raffi_

A+ for effort but, no, that won't work. We need multiple IP's for Multiple sites. We already run Host Headers on both sets of IP's.

by raffi_

Interesting enough - I CAN get this to work flawlessly on a Linux box that we have. Too bad the sites are ASP :-(

by bohicam1

Would you need two incidences of TCP/IP installed? One for each NIC?
Just a thought...
Good luck!

Mike

by timthetoolman

Hi,

Are the nics the same? I've heard there can be problems with two identical nics in the one box. Apparently the driver gets confused as to which nic it should be working for...

Something else to look at, anyway...

Cheers,
Tim.

by timthetoolman

Hi,

It wont be seen as a hardware conflict. There is only one type of card and consequently only one set of software (ie. the drivers). Windows apparently gets confused about having multiple identical drivers.

If the nics are the same and you have another different one you could try, then I would suggest that you do that.

Cheers,
Tim.

by raffi_

Thanks Tim but I have been down this road. These are the second set of NICS in this machine. They are a RealTEC and a 3Com. The 3Com is a 10 and the RealTEK a 10/100. They are feeding into 2 different 3Com 24-port hubs and then to the 2 routers - 1 Cisco and 1 generic DSL - to each provider. Cables have been tested. Hubs work as there is a Linux box doing almost exactly the same job, except it actually works.

by raffi_

We have been down this road. This is the 2nd set of NICs in this machine - all new or known good, never the same brand in the unit at the same time and different PCI slots each time. Cables have been tested. Each NIC goes to a different 24-port 3Comhub and then out to a router - a Cisco or a generic DSL depending on the upstream provider. System shows no conflicts. I do not think it is a hardware issue.

by meganetcomputers

I know it may be a little redundant but since you are using IIS you can duplicate the site and have it only respond to the IP on the nic that you are not using. So in essence you will have site one report to your first nic and site two report to your second nic. The content of both sites should be the same or you could even try pointing site two to the same folder as site one.

by timthetoolman

Hi,

OK, This can certainly be done!

I know this is going to sound stupid and obvious, but you did enable both nics and reboot, right? Win2K is OK for dynamic network changes generally, but not perfect....

I also expect that you've got the latest drivers for the cards?

And you're running with SP2?

I think you mentioned that you tried different PCI slots for them? Multihomed PCs can be finicky about which slots the cards are in. Avoid slot 5, for instance, as it is often a shared one.

If you've covered all that then I really dont know where you can go next. It should work.

Cheers,
Tim.

by raffi_

Both NICs are enabled and the machine has been re-booted to death.
All drivers are current.
SP2 is installed.

"It should work" - Yes, I know it should but it does not :-)

by jfruits

Ok, here's a possible workaround. Turn the linux box into a router and NAT the new address to the old IP (or vice versa). It means a need for a second box, but you did say it was temporary, right? :)

Good luck!

by raffi_

I never did get this to work :-( What we ended up doing was deploying a second box for s short period of time with the 2nd IP attached. It was a bit of a kludge synching the data after wards but at least we got it done.

If anyone in future reads this and knows THE ANSWER I would very much like to know why I could not get this to work.

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