Dual Network Cards

[Eman]

Just wondered if it is possible to hook up two NICs in the same computer, and use both at the same time to speed up data transfer. Kind of like you can with modems. My OS is Win98 SE if that matters. I am hooked up to a 10 Mbps university network. Any thoughts would be nice.

Eman

[rock]

It is technically possible, but you'd need to bind both to separate TCP/IP connections - which means you'll need 2 IP addresses. I don't think the university will be very willing to do that. Plus, the gains would be tough to realize. For example, any given TCP/IP session would be bound to a single node, not both - thus if you're running an FTP server and playing HL at the same time, you could see a benefit, I guess. Sounds like more trouble than it's worth - is 10MB/s really too slow? http://www.sharkyforums.com/ubb/wink.gif

[Eman]

Thanks for the reply. Thats kind of what I thought, to much work not enough result. It may be a 10MB/s network but I can never download anywhere near top speed. Sometimes its modem slow, and others its around 450 Kbps. It might just be too many people using Napster and the like.

[Geek Boy]

You said you have a 10Mb nic,is that the highest speed you can get??Try to get a 100MB nic ,that is what I got.

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Doug Bunker

[Smitty62]

10 mbit NIC's are 1.25 megabytes per second, and 100 NIC's are 12.5 megabytes per second. There are 8 bits in a byte, hence, 10 megabit nic is 1.25 megabytes. So, your NIC is cabable of more than 450kbs that it is getting...so the local net/internet must be crowded....

[Eman]

My NIC is a 10/100, its a 3Com 3C905C, maybe just haven't tweaked the right things. Another possibility is the hub I am hooked up to. There is only one jack in the room and my roomate and I have to share it. When ever I make big transfers the collision light, lights up. I am going to try to wire it straight to the jack, but my roomates computer is hooked to the hub and it is almost always faster. And I know its not my computer speed, I just built a new 900Mhz T-bird with 128Mb of good PC133, and a Asus A7V mobo. Maybe I have an IRQ sharing conflict, I dont know. I might try switching the slot. Thanks for the ideas.

Eman

[Geek Boy]

only if u could get the 1Gb NIC's then u can get some speed!!


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Doug Bunker

[llreye]

Try getting a switch vs. hub. Or switching the order your (and roommate's) cables are connected to the hub.
-MKC