Improving Network Performance

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark

Is it possible to install multiple network adapters in a
peer-to-peer network configuration under Windows XP to
improve network performance. We share a lot of very
large files 100's MB each and they are distributed among
several desktop PC's. Each PC station has 2 100 Base-T
ports available but at this time each PC has only one
adapter. Would throughput be improved if they had 2
adapters connected to the two ports? Is it possible to
configure XP to recognize that two adapters are
available? I assume that the network
architecture/bandwith would also we a limiting factor.
If routers are used instead of hubs does dual adapters
allow the effective network speed to double? Any help
would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
There isn't exactly a good answer here.
The limiting factor depends on your entire network
architecture and design, where the machines are on the
network, and on and on and on.

In general, if your hub/switch/router is 100 Mbps, you
won't see a gain by changing or adding NICs on each
machine. The limiting factor in most environments isn't
the NIC, it's the speed of the network devices connecting
the machines.
 
David is correct. For large bandwidth applications
(streaming video, video editing, etc.) people generally
have to move the entire infrastructure up to Gigabit
ethernet.
 
It is to also note that some residential devices (hubs,
switches) don't alwways run in FULL DUPLEX. Make sure
you enable your NICs to force 100mb FD and not auto-sense.

If it fails to signal sync up to FD then the switch/hub
doesn't support it.
 
Back
Top