Teaming the Intel NIC

[kanagk]

Hi

Im Kanag. The following are the points which Im looking for your suggestion.

1.
I have a Dell Optiplex 755 desktop PC. The OS is Windows Server 2003 R2. The PC has Intel 82566DM Gigabit network connection (onboard). Im planning to put Intel PRO/1000 PT server adapter in the PCIe-x1 slot. Im looking for teaming between the Intel PRO/1000 PT server adapter & 82566DM Gigabit network connection (onboard).
I just wanted to know the technical possibility of adding the 82566DM Gigabit network connection (onboard) in teaming mode. Is there is any other possibility for teaming with this onboard LAN connection?

2.
I have a Dell Optiplex 755 desktop PC. The OS is Windows XP SP2. The PC has Intel 82566DM Gigabit network connection (onboard). I need teaming service for the network adapters. I have two options.

Option1 for teaming:
1. Intel PRO/100 S server adapter (PCI Slot)
2. 82566DM Gigabit network connection (onboard).

Option2 for teaming:
1. Intel PRO/100 S server adapter (PCI Slot)
2. Intel PRO/100 S Desktop adapter (PCI Slot)

I just wanted to know the technical possibility of adding the 82566DM Gigabit network connection (onboard) in teaming mode. Which option I can go for?

Did anybody tried this before?

Regards,
Kanag

[FN-GM]

I think you can only team if the adapters are the same chipset.

You will need some extra software for teaming, you will probably find it on the intel website.

[kanagk]

Hi

Thanks for your reply. Is the second configuration (2) is ok? Whether it will work?

-Kanag

[wagnerk]

On some of our servers we've teamed up intel and broadcoms together, I can't remember whose software we used (it's either intel's or broadcom's own). The one other thing I remember was that if you team up to different speed network cards, all of them will then go down to the lowest speed card*.

IMO if you're going to team up network cards, either team up the two 100mb ones and then either buy & install another gig one or don't team the gig one up.

-Ken

*this is going back a couple of years, the teaming software may have changed since then.

[Michael]

You may find this useful. It also outlines different Teaming Modes, instead of me explaining them all!

[gshaw]

Yup the Intel driver software includes the teaming stuff (think it's the advanced network services part of the driver iirc). I personally favour the PCI cards over onboard, also remember to set up the switch ports for teaming as well, had to do this with our HP switches - the driver checks if the setup is OK as well...