How to use dual network cards?

Harbz · 16 May 2008 at 00:04

Hello. I've never understood the purpose of dual network cards, so can someone please explain how they would work in my situation here?

I have 2 pc's which are both connected together on a network by using a gigabit switch / adsl router.

Basically 1 network cable goes from each machine into the switch. This provides a small network between the 2 pcs, and allows them both access to internet.

The motherboards in these 2 machines have dual network cards, so they both have a spare network port unused. If I put a cross over network cable between the 2 machines on the spare network ports what extra would I gain?

Thanks.

Dogoid · 16 May 2008 at 00:09

you would gain a subnetwork. its network segregation. say for instance its a big company with a finance dep't and billing, for a efficient network, different kinds of packets from different departments would be kept away form each other for a clean streamlined network operation.

Harbz · 16 May 2008 at 00:32

would windows also use this crossover cable whenever I copied files from one machine to the other so it missed out the switch?

Zarf · 16 May 2008 at 01:04

Yes, easiest way is by setting static IP's on each secondary network adaptor on your computers - something like 10.0.0.1 and 10.0.0.2. For subnet address on both, use 255.255.255.0. Don't worry about any other settings. Now If you browse to the IP address of the crossover cabled network adapter on the other computer, traffic would then go through that route.

You could optionally then edit your HOSTS file so that you could use names instead of IP addresses (google it)