server communications network.

[Jeff Hauff]

Back under Windows NT, you were able to designate a specific network card
that the servers would use to communicate with each other without going out
over the main data network. Of course this was all before AD and such..
But does anyone remember how that was done or if there is a KB for it? Can
it be done under Windows 2000/2003 and Active Directory?

I would like to have a gigabit network setup for just the server comms. For
example I am testing out the MS Data Protection Manager server and would
prefer all of that heavy traffic would be done over a sep network from the
main data network. But it requires AD to run. What would I run into if I
just put a 2nd nic in a domain controller and attach the DPM to that
network? What sort of issues?

TIA,
Jeff

 

[Richard G. Harper \(MVP\)]

I would suspect you're looking for a lot of trouble with this approach - or
in any case, what you'll get will be a lot of trouble. AD doesn't like
things like servers and clients being visible on two different IP addresses.
If you're going to upgrade to gigabit (a good idea, BTW) I would upgrade all
servers to gigbit capability and put them all on one gigabit network device,
then down-link that gigabit switch to the rest of the network either via one
gigabit link or one 100mbps link. This would build a fairly flexible
backbone that's capable of gigabit speed where you need it.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Kurt]

I agree completely with Richard. Since the computers are close enough
together to link directly with a cable, they should also be close enough
together to plug into the same switch. If you connect them between gig ports
on the switch you will have exactly what you're looking for. The switch will
only forward traffic between those two connected devices on the ports they
are attached to and will have no detrimental effect on the rest of your
network. Most moders switches have a backplane that can handle many times
the throughput of the expected load (like 4 - 12 Gibabits/sec). Take a look
at some of the gig switches in the Dell powerconnect series. They don't cost
much more than a cheapo switch and have the throughput of the high enders.

....kurt

I would suspect you're looking for a lot of trouble with this approach - or
in any case, what you'll get will be a lot of trouble. AD doesn't like
things like servers and clients being visible on two different IP
addresses. If you're going to upgrade to gigabit (a good idea, BTW) I would
upgrade all servers to gigbit capability and put them all on one gigabit
network device, then down-link that gigabit switch to the rest of the
network either via one gigabit link or one 100mbps link. This would build
a fairly flexible backbone that's capable of gigabit speed where you need
it.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Back under Windows NT, you were able to designate a specific network card
that the servers would use to communicate with each other without going
out over the main data network. Of course this was all before AD and
such.. But does anyone remember how that was done or if there is a KB for
it? Can it be done under Windows 2000/2003 and Active Directory?

I would like to have a gigabit network setup for just the server comms.
For example I am testing out the MS Data Protection Manager server and
would prefer all of that heavy traffic would be done over a sep network
from the main data network. But it requires AD to run. What would I run
into if I just put a 2nd nic in a domain controller and attach the DPM to
that network? What sort of issues?

TIA,
Jeff