[Rasta Monsta]

Will Win2003 Server intelligently load balance multiple NICs? Is there a way to optimize for multiple NICs?

The server is basic duty:

1. File Server
2. Domain Controller
3. Print Server
4. DNS Server
5. DHCP Server

TIA,

rasta

[PangingJr]

these informations are taken from a few topics that are posted at http://groups.google.com/group/micro...server.general

Q:
From: Joe M
Hi do I use NETWORK load balancing to assign a single ip address of 192.168.200.5 255.255.255.0 to 3 Network cards in the same Windows 2k
advanced server box.. ?? Please list the steps. There's document in Windows help that describe NLB, but when it comes to assign ip addresses to
multiple network cards. The document is ambiguous. Because after I assign the NLB ip address , Decidicate ip address, then TCP/IP ip address of the
first nic as 192.168.200.5 . Then assign the same TCP/IP ip address 192.168.200.5 to the second nic. There's a message that comes up and say
"the ip address 192.168.200.5 is already assigned to another adapter. If the same address is assigned to both adapters only one of them will use this
address" Where's the Microsoft example of assigning ip address to multiple nics. I don't want the description, I want the examples with figures.......!!!!

A:
Hi Joe,

NLB is not designed to load balance multiple NICs on a single server. It is designed to load balance an IP address (or addresses) on multiple servers. You cannot assign the same IP address to multiple interfaces on the same server.You may want to investigate 3rd party teaming NICs.

Thanks,
Marc Reynolds
Microsoft Technical Support


Q:
I have a Windows 2003 server with three NIC's in it. Is it possible to do load balancing to this one server across these three NIC's? If so how? I no
I can use the the Network Load Balancing service to create a cluster of more than one computer but can I balance traffic to this one box with mulitple NIC"S

Thanks,
David

A:
Hello David,

Thank you for posting here.

Load balancing is not possible on a single server. Also, it is not recommended to connect multiple NICs on one computer to one physical network subnet.

Based on my experience, the NIC should not be the bottle neck in your system.

For more information you may browse the following web sites:

How to Configure WLBS Using Multiple Network Interface Cards
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;197991

Windows NT Load Balancing Service Technical Overview
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/pr...sp?bPrint=True

In addition, I'd like let you know another technology: Network Adapter Teaming.

There are network adapters and accompanying drivers available from some hardware manufacturers to provide fault tolerance. This technology allows you to group network adapter ports for a connection to a single physical segment. If connectivity through one port is not working, another port is activated automatically. This operation is transparent to the operating system and other devices on the network.

Support for the fault-tolerant technology (the hardware and the drivers) is provided by the hardware manufacturer.
Some related information:

Network Adapter Teaming and Server Clustering
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;254101

INFO: Using NIC Teaming Adapters with Network Load Balancing May Cause
Network Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;278431

I hope this information proves helpful to you.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let me
know. I am happy to be of assistance.

Thanks and regards,
Alex Zhang
Microsoft Partner Online Support

Q:
Hi All, i have a single server with tw networks cards in it.....

my question is - can i use network load balancing to ease the congestion and if so how do i go about setting t up - as it stans at
the moment both network cards are on the same IP range and subnet and both have static ip addresses on them.....
i would just like to know my options as i cannot use "teaming" with these two cards...

Thanks for any help in advance

Jason

A:
No, Jason, you do need two or more physical servers to configure NLB...from the Q&A here:

Network Load Balancing: Frequently Asked Questions for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...ng/nlbfaq.mspx

Q. Can NLB Be Used Instead of NIC Teaming Software to Provide Adapter Fault Tolerance or Increase Throughput?
A. No, NLB cannot be used to team adapters (grouping adapter ports together). NLB is used strictly to load balance traffic among multiple hosts
in a load-balanced cluster

Hope this helps,
Ryan Sokolowski
MVP - Windows Server - Clustering

i hope the above infomations and links could provide the detail which you are requiring.

[PangingJr]

...