I am trying to load balance a linux file server across the same gateway, but through 3 NICS with externally visible IP addresses.

I am using iptraf to monitor the traffic, and currently, because of the default route through eth0, all traffic is routed through it.

Even if I instantiate a ftp session to the IP address bound to eth1 or eth2, I see the traffic flowing through eth0.

Is there any way to use iptables or iproute to explicitly keep traffic that is meant for each IP address to stay within that NIC? In other words, is there a way to not have a default route?

Thanks for your support.

-j-

BTTT

There's a kernel option called "Bonding driver support". "CONFIG_BONDING.. able to 'bond' multiple Ethernet Channels together. This is called 'Etherchannel' by Cisco, 'Trunking' by Sun, and 'Bonding' in Linux.If you have two Ethernet connections to some other computer, you can make them behave like one double speed connection using this driver. Naturally, this has to be supported at the other end as well, either with a similar Bonding Linux driver, a Cisco 5500 switch or a SunTrunking SunSoft driver."

Or you may be able to do it with iproute and friends. I can think of a really ugly way, but it's so ugly I'll do you a favour and not mention it.