Network question and dual nic issue
Scooby Regular
Joined: Nov 2001
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Not sure what the original question was 
Define teaming? Load balance, failover, link aggregation ?
I'm not sure what 3rd party software if any exists for that.
You would normally use a dual port nic(s) or singles from the same manufacturer and use their software/drivers to do it. The main ones I use nowadays are Broadcom or Intel.
With link aggregation, your switch will need to support it. Load balance, don't know much about it...
You can do failover in software by using virtual IP's like a cluster type setup.
H
Define teaming? Load balance, failover, link aggregation ?
I'm not sure what 3rd party software if any exists for that.
You would normally use a dual port nic(s) or singles from the same manufacturer and use their software/drivers to do it. The main ones I use nowadays are Broadcom or Intel.
With link aggregation, your switch will need to support it. Load balance, don't know much about it...
You can do failover in software by using virtual IP's like a cluster type setup.
H
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Thanks for the reply and what I wanted to do is not possible as far as I know and also looks like wasn't needed anyway (nic teaming).
The issue was I have a server ml115 running win2k3 64bit. It has the onboard nic and I have added a usb wireless nic so I could get internet access to my router downstairs. The server is running vm workstation hosting virtual esx servers. Obviously esx has a very limited hardware compatibility list as far as nics and so can only see the onboard nic which is used only by esx for the vms hosted on the esx servers. The onboard nic is not plugged into anything so has no external access.
I wanted to allow the vm's on the esx servers to get internet access and the only way to do that would be for them to have their traffic routed from the onboard nic across to the usb wireless nic.
I thought this could be done through manually setting up either teaming or bridging the onboard nic and the usb wireless nic but that was incorrect. As it turns out the vms can still get internet access as I overlooked the fact the bridging on the onboard nic for esx traffic is to the host OS and the host OS is getting its internet access over the usb wireless nic and seems to be automatically routing the traffic. So it works but is extremely slow and lots of dropped pings due to the amount of bridging and routing going on from the host os through to vm workstation to the esx servers to the vms on the esx servers.
The issue was I have a server ml115 running win2k3 64bit. It has the onboard nic and I have added a usb wireless nic so I could get internet access to my router downstairs. The server is running vm workstation hosting virtual esx servers. Obviously esx has a very limited hardware compatibility list as far as nics and so can only see the onboard nic which is used only by esx for the vms hosted on the esx servers. The onboard nic is not plugged into anything so has no external access.
I wanted to allow the vm's on the esx servers to get internet access and the only way to do that would be for them to have their traffic routed from the onboard nic across to the usb wireless nic.
I thought this could be done through manually setting up either teaming or bridging the onboard nic and the usb wireless nic but that was incorrect. As it turns out the vms can still get internet access as I overlooked the fact the bridging on the onboard nic for esx traffic is to the host OS and the host OS is getting its internet access over the usb wireless nic and seems to be automatically routing the traffic. So it works but is extremely slow and lots of dropped pings due to the amount of bridging and routing going on from the host os through to vm workstation to the esx servers to the vms on the esx servers.
Scooby Regular
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 0
What a strange setup 
What generation is your ML? I'm sure someone at work runs ESXi on a ML115 G5 booting from a usb key..
I would recommend ditching the usb wireless adaptor and use an AP in client mode. Then its presented as a nice ethernet port
What generation is your ML? I'm sure someone at work runs ESXi on a ML115 G5 booting from a usb key..
I would recommend ditching the usb wireless adaptor and use an AP in client mode. Then its presented as a nice ethernet port
Guest
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G5. I don't want to use esxi because it isn't a patch on esx with not having a service console (have already tried it and have the esxi usb key sitting on my desk unused) and my setup is the way it is so I can mess about with configs that are relevant to what I do at work such as HA and DRS, patching and upgrading etc - so home based learning really. Plus server is dual booted with vista too so doubles as a powerful desktop for me to play about on (added a geforce video card) and my eldest to use for homework.
Yes an ap would be far easier and already been down that road but the Be router I used was fecking useless as an ap. Using my netgear router for adsl but didn't matter if I swapped them around and used the netgear as the ap the Be router continually dropped pings and was thoroughly unreliable so gave up. The wireless usb stick was far cheaper than buying an ap and connects perfectly to the netgear router.
It is a strange/complex setup but i'm very happy with it as I now have 3 virtual esx 3.5 servers plus a virtual san utilising the 1tb hdd I stuck in the ML. Allows me to have my own test lab at home as work have used up all virtual infrastructure for pre prod and prod so none left for a sandpit for us to play in
Yes an ap would be far easier and already been down that road but the Be router I used was fecking useless as an ap. Using my netgear router for adsl but didn't matter if I swapped them around and used the netgear as the ap the Be router continually dropped pings and was thoroughly unreliable so gave up. The wireless usb stick was far cheaper than buying an ap and connects perfectly to the netgear router.
It is a strange/complex setup but i'm very happy with it as I now have 3 virtual esx 3.5 servers plus a virtual san utilising the 1tb hdd I stuck in the ML. Allows me to have my own test lab at home as work have used up all virtual infrastructure for pre prod and prod so none left for a sandpit for us to play in
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