Using 2 Network Cards

[Nathan Sokalski]

I have 2 network cards and 2 places that I can connect to the network I use,
and I want to use them both at the same time. Are there any
settings/configurations that I need to change on my Windows XP Professional
SP2 in order to do this? Thanks.

 

[q_q_anonymous]

I have 2 network cards and 2 places that I can connect to the network I use,
and I want to use them both at the same time. Are there any
settings/configurations that I need to change on my Windows XP Professional
SP2 in order to do this? Thanks.

I don't think win xp has anything that lets you share them / use both
at the same time. You could flick from one to the other by amending
the routing table.
Type "route print" you see each one and its metric.

I could think of a system that'd probably use both. If you wre running
HyperOS so, one computer, many OSs simultaneously. Not virtual. Then,
one Win XP could use one network card, and another Win XP could use
another!

Regularly.. I guess both are put to use - but not simultaneously. If
one goes down then maybe the other will be used.

 

[Steven L Umbach]

Then the places need to be on separate networks and each network card be
configured to use one network. That may not be as simple as it seems unless
you are on a local network that has a router [a real router like a Cisco or
Windows box acting as a router] or you want to set up mutinetting on your
network. If you are talking about internet access then it becomes
complicated without multiple public IP addresses. Typically mutihomed
computers are configured with each network adapter on a different network.

Steve

 

[Guest]

Why can't you use two NIC cards at the same time ?? We do it all the time.
They just need a different IP address, and can be connected to the same
network.

MD

 

[q_q_anonymous]

Why can't you use two NIC cards at the same time ?? We do it all the time.
They just need a different IP address, and can be connected to the same
network.

MD

you can but they won't be used simultaneously. The one with the better
metric is chosen from the routing table. Always the same one.

(I haven't tried if they both have the same metric. And maybe there is
3rd party software to use them simultaneously by adapting the metric
somehow, but it sounds messy)

What you suggest may be for if one goes down. Perhaps the other one
will be used automatically. Or maybe you have to tell win xp.. I
havent' tried that. But it's not simultaneously used.

Maybe if you connect each one to a different network or computer, then
they'll both be used, 'cos both will be in the routing table and only
one can be chosen depending on which network it communicates with..

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

I have 2 network cards and 2 places that I can connect to the network
I use, and I want to use them both at the same time. Are there any
settings/configurations that I need to change on my Windows XP
Professional SP2 in order to do this?

Best conditions to install the network bridge. "Network Bridge overview"
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../en-us/hnw_understanding_bridge.mspx?mfr=true

[X-Post: 3 Groups]

 

[q_q_anonymous]

you can but they won't be used simultaneously. The one with the better
metric is chosen from the routing table. Always the same one.

(I haven't tried if they both have the same metric. And maybe there is
3rd party software to use them simultaneously by adapting the metric
somehow, but it sounds messy)

in this last paragraph, I mean, if network itnerfaces / network cards
to different network.

What you suggest may be for if one goes down. Perhaps the other one
will be used automatically. Or maybe you have to tell win xp.. I
havent' tried that. But it's not simultaneously used.

I guess it is simultaneous. Simultaneous TCP connections. Ap acket
sent on one, a packet sent on the other. That's concurrent(one after
the other so fast that it appears simultaneous and for practical
purposes, is kind of simultaneous. As concurrent as 2 TCP connections
on 1 card. You would have TCP connections on 2 cards.

Still, that is with each to a different network. The OP and yourself
have 2 to the same network. The routing table is used such that it
would only use one interface. Even though both are connected, working,
both have IPs.

I even had 2 to different networks but only one was used. Because both
were connectinos to the internet - different IPs of course (but each to
a difernet router so different network), Each was competing to be the
default route. Only one had the better metric, so was always chosen.
Try a dial up and a broadband connection to the internet. The dial up
is given the better metric, so you'll see you'll get dialup speeds.
that's how i first noticed this.

 

[q_q_anonymous]

Best conditions to install the network bridge. "Network Bridge overview"
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../en-us/hnw_understanding_bridge.mspx?mfr=true

are you seriously suggesting that what he is looking for is to use that
computer as a (headless/standalone/dedicated )bridge to connect 2 other
computers to?
Or are you suggesting a workstation bridge. Etiher way that isn't what
he was talking about.
If you want to just read like a machine, then he could lpug another
computer directly into his, with his connected to the internet via the
other NIC.
I think it's clear that's not what he wants. He is talking about his
computer sending packets out of both NICs simultaneously. Not his
computer forwarding another computer's packets as you suggest.
A possible advantage of what he is talking about is a speed increase on
the LAN. 2*100Mb/s. I'm not sure if that'd work though. Whether -
say - a 4 port 100Mb/s switch actually shares speed across ports -
anyone?

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

are you seriously suggesting that
Yes.

what he is looking for is to use that computer as a
(headless/standalone/dedicated )bridge to connect 2 other computers to?

The network bridge is neither headless nor standalone nor dedicated.

I think it's clear that's not what he wants. He is talking about his
computer sending packets out of both NICs simultaneously.

He "wants to use them both at the same time" (see above). To put
different words into the OP's mouth is wild guess. Period.

[X-Post: 3 Groups]

 

[q_q_anonymous]

The network bridge is neither headless nor standalone nor dedicated.

whoops, didn't mean "standalone".

I see, it's a workstation.

He "wants to use them both at the same time" (see above). To put
different words into the OP's mouth is wild guess. Period.

he didn't say he had more than oen computer and wanted to build a
network. But fair enough, it's a possible answer amongst others.