network teaming (newbie question)

I have an exchange server that's running well, but I think it could
use a boost in terms of network connectivity. I've heard that the
concept of network teaming can help to double the throughput to/from
the server. The server is a DELL poweredge 1950 with dual nics (we're
only using one, right now), and it's connected to an HP procurve 2848
switch. So the basic question is, how can I configure both NICs to
team up and provide additional bandwidth to/from the server? Can
someone suggest a good website or book which I can study? Or perhaps
the answer can be easily provided? Thanks in advance for any
suggestions.

Eben Yong
Health Plan of San Mateo

NIC teaming is handled by software from the NIC manufacturers. What
brand of NIC do you have? You should be able to get reliable info from the
NIC manufacturer and/or Dell.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
>I have an exchange server that's running well, but I think it could
> use a boost in terms of network connectivity. I've heard that the
> concept of network teaming can help to double the throughput to/from
> the server. The server is a DELL poweredge 1950 with dual nics (we're
> only using one, right now), and it's connected to an HP procurve 2848
> switch. So the basic question is, how can I configure both NICs to
> team up and provide additional bandwidth to/from the server? Can
> someone suggest a good website or book which I can study? Or perhaps
> the answer can be easily provided? Thanks in advance for any
> suggestions.
>
> Eben Yong
> Health Plan of San Mateo
>

The nic teaming is only half of the equation. You need a switch that
supports trunking/Link Aggregation which according to your switches doc is
supported.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
>I have an exchange server that's running well, but I think it could
> use a boost in terms of network connectivity. I've heard that the
> concept of network teaming can help to double the throughput to/from
> the server. The server is a DELL poweredge 1950 with dual nics (we're
> only using one, right now), and it's connected to an HP procurve 2848
> switch. So the basic question is, how can I configure both NICs to
> team up and provide additional bandwidth to/from the server? Can
> someone suggest a good website or book which I can study? Or perhaps
> the answer can be easily provided? Thanks in advance for any
> suggestions.
>
> Eben Yong
> Health Plan of San Mateo
>
Unless that's 10mb ethernet I'd be really suppriesed you need additional
local bandwidth.

Exchange is normally cpu/disk bound. Even with 2000+ users, and 1400
concurent logins I wasn't seeing an exchange server saturate a 100mb link.
Have you been runing perfmon and seeing high network usage?

Do you have a NAS or remote backup device that is stuffing the network? If
so it's easy to move them to a different/private subnet.