Combining bandwidth... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

intecel · 07-18-2005, 08:59 PM

Trying to help a friend with something:

Got this far; server 2003 with 4 nics.

I have 15 IP's at work. I want to give each WAN nic its own ip and thus, 5 MB of bandwidth. I want to combine the nics together to have a 15mb pipe then use RAS to NAT the LAN. What's the next step here? Load balancing? Multihoming? Bridging?

I'm going from RR Modem to switch to 3 WAN Nics and then LAN nic to main switch.

Anyone have any ideas, or if this is even possible? I know roadrunner here gives out a cap of 5mb download per IP (not modem / user).

bendsley · 07-19-2005, 05:49 AM

Well, assign each NIC an IP address. What it sounds like you're looking for is something called Port Bonding. I have done this before with Linux, but not in Windows.

But geez, 15 public IP's and you're using a cable modem? Haha, that's funny.

Transmit Load Balancing (TLB) and Switch-Assisted Load Balancing (FEC/GEC/802.3ad static-mode configuration only) are two port-bonding methods. TLB provides both failover and balancing of transmit traffic across all adapters for increased performance. For even higher performance, Switch-Assisted Load Balancing (SLB) provides port failover and balancing of transmit and receive traffic across all adapters when connected to a switch that supports this feature.

Cynthetiq · 07-19-2005, 05:53 AM

bonding on a windows machine used to be very tricky. I'm not sure how it is today... but it was a real pain in the ass in Win2k

Pragma · 07-19-2005, 08:56 AM

What you'll want to do is talk to Roadrunner and explain that you need the fifteen IP addresses (or however many) and that you want a business connection - it sounds to me like you purchased several residential lines (hence the 5Mbit cap) and are trying to bond them, but if you purchase a business line, you should be able to get much better speeds without the limits.

Port bonding really shouldn't be considered unless you absolutely cannot change the network setup because - as Cynthetiq said - it's a huge pain in the ass.

cyrnel · 07-19-2005, 09:22 AM

I would be telling my friend to get a better connection. Were I that friend, I would not be pulling you in to try port bonding on my business connection. Wars have begun over smaller things.

He might want to consider a load balancing switch and two broadband connections. Plug & go.

intecel · 07-20-2005, 06:12 PM

Roadrunner here starts out very cheap and gives you 15 IPs for business class. The more bandwidth you want, the price jumps up pretty quickly.

Plus, this is more of an experiment to see if it can be done than anything else.

cyrnel · 07-20-2005, 10:28 PM

Can you purchase two of the low-end lines for a reasonable price? With dual-WAN routers you can aggregate the bandwidth with a couple minutes of configuration. No Windows changes. I've seen (but not used) versions that support up to four connections. Cheap dual-WAN versions start below $100. Might be worth considering.

07-18-2005, 08:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
intecel Psycho	Combining bandwidth... Trying to help a friend with something: Got this far; server 2003 with 4 nics. I have 15 IP's at work. I want to give each WAN nic its own ip and thus, 5 MB of bandwidth. I want to combine the nics together to have a 15mb pipe then use RAS to NAT the LAN. What's the next step here? Load balancing? Multihoming? Bridging? I'm going from RR Modem to switch to 3 WAN Nics and then LAN nic to main switch. Anyone have any ideas, or if this is even possible? I know roadrunner here gives out a cap of 5mb download per IP (not modem / user).

07-19-2005, 05:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
bendsley Professional Loafer Location: texas	Well, assign each NIC an IP address. What it sounds like you're looking for is something called Port Bonding. I have done this before with Linux, but not in Windows. But geez, 15 public IP's and you're using a cable modem? Haha, that's funny. Transmit Load Balancing (TLB) and Switch-Assisted Load Balancing (FEC/GEC/802.3ad static-mode configuration only) are two port-bonding methods. TLB provides both failover and balancing of transmit traffic across all adapters for increased performance. For even higher performance, Switch-Assisted Load Balancing (SLB) provides port failover and balancing of transmit and receive traffic across all adapters when connected to a switch that supports this feature. __________________ "You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane." Last edited by bendsley; 07-19-2005 at 05:53 AM..

07-19-2005, 05:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	bonding on a windows machine used to be very tricky. I'm not sure how it is today... but it was a real pain in the ass in Win2k __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

07-19-2005, 09:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	I would be telling my friend to get a better connection. Were I that friend, I would not be pulling you in to try port bonding on my business connection. Wars have begun over smaller things. He might want to consider a load balancing switch and two broadband connections. Plug & go. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

07-20-2005, 10:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	Can you purchase two of the low-end lines for a reasonable price? With dual-WAN routers you can aggregate the bandwidth with a couple minutes of configuration. No Windows changes. I've seen (but not used) versions that support up to four connections. Cheap dual-WAN versions start below $100. Might be worth considering. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

07-19-2005, 08:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
Pragma I am Winter Born Location: Alexandria, VA	What you'll want to do is talk to Roadrunner and explain that you need the fifteen IP addresses (or however many) and that you want a business connection - it sounds to me like you purchased several residential lines (hence the 5Mbit cap) and are trying to bond them, but if you purchase a business line, you should be able to get much better speeds without the limits. Port bonding really shouldn't be considered unless you absolutely cannot change the network setup because - as Cynthetiq said - it's a huge pain in the ass.

07-20-2005, 06:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
intecel Psycho	Roadrunner here starts out very cheap and gives you 15 IPs for business class. The more bandwidth you want, the price jumps up pretty quickly. Plus, this is more of an experiment to see if it can be done than anything else.