I have a gigabyte router. Currently I have 3 PCs connected to it. 2 of the PCs have gigabyte NICs in them. The third PC has 3 10/100 NICs in it (it used to be a server). Instead of buying a girabyte NIC for it, can I just connect all 3 of the 10/100 NICs to the router and use load balencing or some how shotgun the 3 NICs for an theoritical transfer rate of 300mbps? Is there a way to do thsi in windows XP, or do I need third party software? -Ryan Adams Ryan's Custom Cables

PS: I researched this on google and no once seams to think that it is possible. However in X-Setup Pro there is a tweak that says "For WinNT/Win2000/XP: For systems with 2 Network Cards [NICs]. Checking Box enables Load Balancing; Unchecking [clearing] Box will disable Load Balancing." That makes me think it is possible. Any ideas? -Ryan Adams Ryan's Custom Cables

You can bridge the connections, this will make the three ethernet connections show as just one which obviously makes IP addressing etc easier. However, I'm not sure if this increases the speed as I've never tried it. Perhaps someone who has can clarify this.

very possible, but it depends on the drivers supplied by the manufacturer, no msft. I built up a Terminal Server that had two emedded Intel gig-nics, plus I added a third Intel gig-nic (different model number). Then I went to Intel's site and downloaded the driver for the embedded nics. This driver also recogized the 3rd nic and had the option of config'ing them as 3 seperate nics (on seperate net's, of course), or the option of running one nic with the others on stand-by for fault tolerance, or the option of Team load balancing witch creates one virtual nic from the three nics and communicates with the switch at 3Gbps one way! Way cool, and really fast!

So what exactly do I need to do to get all my NICs working with load balencing? -Ryan Adams Ryan's Custom Cables

So are you saying you have a router that has gigabit switch ports? And now you want to do adapter teaming [this is what it is called]? Do you realize that if you had a full T1 coming in that you only get 1.54mbps data xfer? So even at 10mbps for your workstations you are way faster then what the wan can provide? With that said you need to identify the nics manufacturer. If intel then just download their drivers and utilities. Go into the proset utility and configure adapter teaming. One aspect of adapter teaming working correctly is the switch. I do gigabit fiber adapter teaming to a Nortel Passport switch. I don't believe a 10/100 router switch port has the sophistication to support adapter teaming properly but it certainly is worth a try.

Save yourself the headaches.. Sell or give away the 3 10/100's and get another gigabit card! $30 in headaches vs $30 gigabit card. You decide... 808