Windows Server 2003 NLB with Dual NIC's on single segment

We have a File Server running Server 2003 Standard with two NICs. We wanted
to be able to Load Balance using the two internal Nic's so traffic would
equalize between the two and create some fail-over should one NIC fail. NLB
"seems" to be running, but traffic is hardly equalized. NIC's are identical.
Here is our configuration:

Nic 1:
IP: 10.10.10.32/24
GW: 10.10.10.250

Nic 2:
IP: 10.10.10.33/24
GW: none

NLB Cluster: 10.10.10.15/24 (the address we want everyone to use)

When we pull the plug on NIC 2, traffic does continue, but slows almost to a
halt. I've seen numerous articles and hints online, but nothing that says we
can really do this with one Server and two NIC's on the same LAN segment. BTW
- during config, NIC 2 shows "its" Cluster as 0.0.0.0 and we cannot change
it. Says we already have a NIC with at address. Maybe this cannot be done?
Any help would be appreciated.

Hi John,

unsure here but I'm have never seen the usage of NLB for load balance
purposes of an FILESERVER....had mostly webservers implemented in regards to
NLB ;-)
But why you are not using a NIC teaming for traffic load balancing purposes.

What network hardware do you have ?

Regards
Ramazan

"JohnS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0AE6C611-C934-4D6D-9A62-(E-Mail Removed)...
> We have a File Server running Server 2003 Standard with two NICs. We
> wanted
> to be able to Load Balance using the two internal Nic's so traffic would
> equalize between the two and create some fail-over should one NIC fail.
> NLB
> "seems" to be running, but traffic is hardly equalized. NIC's are
> identical.
> Here is our configuration:
>
> Nic 1:
> IP: 10.10.10.32/24
> GW: 10.10.10.250
>
> Nic 2:
> IP: 10.10.10.33/24
> GW: none
>
> NLB Cluster: 10.10.10.15/24 (the address we want everyone to use)
>
> When we pull the plug on NIC 2, traffic does continue, but slows almost to
> a
> halt. I've seen numerous articles and hints online, but nothing that says
> we
> can really do this with one Server and two NIC's on the same LAN segment.
> BTW
> - during config, NIC 2 shows "its" Cluster as 0.0.0.0 and we cannot change
> it. Says we already have a NIC with at address. Maybe this cannot be done?
> Any help would be appreciated.

Hardware is BroadCOM BCM5708C. Also have a heavy hitting File Server using
Intel Pro 1000 MT's. I think you're right - we're going to move to the NIC
Teaming approach and let the hardware manufacturer do their part.

Appreciate the input.

John


"RCan" wrote:

> Hi John,
>
> unsure here but I'm have never seen the usage of NLB for load balance
> purposes of an FILESERVER....had mostly webservers implemented in regards to
> NLB ;-)
> But why you are not using a NIC teaming for traffic load balancing purposes.
>
> What network hardware do you have ?
>
> Regards
> Ramazan
>
> "JohnS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:0AE6C611-C934-4D6D-9A62-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > We have a File Server running Server 2003 Standard with two NICs. We
> > wanted
> > to be able to Load Balance using the two internal Nic's so traffic would
> > equalize between the two and create some fail-over should one NIC fail.
> > NLB
> > "seems" to be running, but traffic is hardly equalized. NIC's are
> > identical.
> > Here is our configuration:
> >
> > Nic 1:
> > IP: 10.10.10.32/24
> > GW: 10.10.10.250
> >
> > Nic 2:
> > IP: 10.10.10.33/24
> > GW: none
> >
> > NLB Cluster: 10.10.10.15/24 (the address we want everyone to use)
> >
> > When we pull the plug on NIC 2, traffic does continue, but slows almost to
> > a
> > halt. I've seen numerous articles and hints online, but nothing that says
> > we
> > can really do this with one Server and two NIC's on the same LAN segment.
> > BTW
> > - during config, NIC 2 shows "its" Cluster as 0.0.0.0 and we cannot change
> > it. Says we already have a NIC with at address. Maybe this cannot be done?
> > Any help would be appreciated.
>

For Broadcom :
How do I configure two or more adapters to a team?
In Microsoft Windows, click on the Team Management icon in BACS (Broadcom
Advanced Control Suite), select Teams from the menu, and select "Create a
Team". A teaming wizard will display. Follow the instructions to the end,
and click finish to create the desired teaming configuration.

For Intel :
You need to use the Intel software PROSet for configuring an team, more
details can you find here :
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...teaming_10.pdf

PS : Intel Pro1000 MT are really good server adapters, if you do have 2 of
them, build a team depending on your networking infrastructure (AFT, SFT).
this will provide you load balancing the network troughput and implement
fault tolerance for your NICs and if possible switches.

Regards
Ramazan

"JohnS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3C3D6A75-574C-464E-BB3C-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hardware is BroadCOM BCM5708C. Also have a heavy hitting File Server using
> Intel Pro 1000 MT's. I think you're right - we're going to move to the NIC
> Teaming approach and let the hardware manufacturer do their part.
>
> Appreciate the input.
>
> John
>
>
> "RCan" wrote:
>
>> Hi John,
>>
>> unsure here but I'm have never seen the usage of NLB for load balance
>> purposes of an FILESERVER....had mostly webservers implemented in regards
>> to
>> NLB ;-)
>> But why you are not using a NIC teaming for traffic load balancing
>> purposes.
>>
>> What network hardware do you have ?
>>
>> Regards
>> Ramazan
>>
>> "JohnS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:0AE6C611-C934-4D6D-9A62-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > We have a File Server running Server 2003 Standard with two NICs. We
>> > wanted
>> > to be able to Load Balance using the two internal Nic's so traffic
>> > would
>> > equalize between the two and create some fail-over should one NIC fail.
>> > NLB
>> > "seems" to be running, but traffic is hardly equalized. NIC's are
>> > identical.
>> > Here is our configuration:
>> >
>> > Nic 1:
>> > IP: 10.10.10.32/24
>> > GW: 10.10.10.250
>> >
>> > Nic 2:
>> > IP: 10.10.10.33/24
>> > GW: none
>> >
>> > NLB Cluster: 10.10.10.15/24 (the address we want everyone to use)
>> >
>> > When we pull the plug on NIC 2, traffic does continue, but slows almost
>> > to
>> > a
>> > halt. I've seen numerous articles and hints online, but nothing that
>> > says
>> > we
>> > can really do this with one Server and two NIC's on the same LAN
>> > segment.
>> > BTW
>> > - during config, NIC 2 shows "its" Cluster as 0.0.0.0 and we cannot
>> > change
>> > it. Says we already have a NIC with at address. Maybe this cannot be
>> > done?
>> > Any help would be appreciated.
>>