Question : Using 2 NIC Cards

Im running a server on a windows xp computer and ive got it hooked up to a router. I want to know if it's possible to put in a second NIC card. If it is I would like to know if it will make the internet any faster? If it does than how do I do it? Thanks.

Answer : Using 2 NIC Cards

Your internet connection is at a set speed by your provider. Your ISP provides the seep you pay for. So say you pay for a T1 line you will get 1.5 mbps. This speed is your bandwidth. Bandwidth is the ideal amount of data you could send throught your connection.

But given natural disturbances like distance, and noise interference you never really are able to use your full bandwidth. The speed that you actually get (use) is called throughput.

The only way you can increase throughput (actual speed of your connection) is by increasing your bandwidth (ideal connection speed). NICs do not increase bandwidth, they only process the speed of the connection.

The only way you can increase the speed of your connection, is to either pay for a faster connection, or delete everything from your computer so you can have memory (dont actually do this :-D.)

People normally use 2 NICs on a computer for redundancy or load balacing. Redundancy is used for high traffic servers so that if one link goes down, the other is still connected to the network

load balacing is used for dual connection to one computer. Either dual homed or multi homed. Dual homed is when 2 separate internet connections are provided by the same company. Where as multi homed is provided by 2 different companies. load balancing allows both lines to be used simultaneously so that if traffic is heavy on one connection all internet traffic will be directed to the other one.

Although load balancing is rarely just straight into a computer, load balancing is usually done on routers.

Thats where i would do them.

So just to recap, adding a NIC will not increase your internet speed. Increasing bandwidth will only.

- Kevin