Separate NICs to raise the bandwith

ivanatora · 07-26-2004, 02:56 AM

Let's imagine the following situation:
I have a file server. There are a LOT of clients that connects to it and download big files. I have 100Mbit NICs. Can I plug more than one NIC and connect it to the main switch (there are connected cables from the clients, from the router and other PCs) in order to get more troughtput to that machine? Say that, if I plug in 3 100Mbit NICs, will I get 3x100=300Mbit channel to that machine?
If the type of the wires matter - they are UTP Cat 5.

schoeppchen · 07-26-2004, 03:35 AM

Hmmm, never tried something like this but I think this will not raise your bandwidth because the bottleneck will then be your bussystem (PCI I suppose) the NICs use.

pingu · 07-26-2004, 03:52 AM

Well, it's possible if switch supports it.
It's called "bonding" in Linux (Cisco and Sun both have other names, don't remember.)
Here's an article to start with
Bonding