Networking challenge:

DJ_Izumi · Post by **DJ_Izumi** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:26 pm

I have a problem, well, not so much a problem, just a desire to get more speed.

I am on a cable modem with a PC, no hub or router between the modem and my PC. However, I have a SECOND cable modem, and a second LAN card.

How can I go about connecting both modems to operate in tandum, thusly doubleing my internet speed? >:)

ErMaC · Post by **ErMaC** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:41 pm

Umm, do you have two completely different cable lines coming into your house, and two cable modem subscriptions? Otherwise you're SOL.

DJ_Izumi · Post by **DJ_Izumi** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:44 pm

Two different cable modems connected to the same line. (Splitter)

Don't worry, the way the system works in my city is that any number of modems can connect to the same line (So long as the signal remains strong enough. Split the signal enough, it just gets to weak.).

Both modems are subscribed to the service. (Actually, one I got by accident. A year ago, I asked for disconnection, they didn't disconnect me, they didn't reclaim the modem, they just stopped billing me. So I kept using it.

)

I can get both modems to work simultaniously connected to my computer, but they're operating idependantly. I have to tell my PC which of the LAN connections to use for the internet. I want to get them bridged and working in tandum. :/

mckeed · Post by **mckeed** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 3:23 pm

You need a router, something along these lines:

http://www.guru3d.com/article/network/103/01/

Becuase of the way the IP protocol works, you need a router between you and these connections. Trying to do this from one machine isn't going to work. To do so you would have to really hack the IP protocol.

madmag9999 · Post by **madmag9999** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:36 pm

hmm im pretty sure if u try to put 2 lan cards in your comp and use both at the same time one will take total control over the otherone. so i dont think u can do it with 2 lan cards. maybe this router thing will work i didnt read the review or anything becouse its 15pages and im lazy but ill ask my friend who is a networker if this can be done and get back to u.

DJ_Izumi · Post by **DJ_Izumi** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:39 pm

I don't need a router, as long as there's a LAN connection for each one.

I have had both modems connected to the box at once, but WinXP is unable to operate them in tandum, I basicly have to pick which of the two connections it utalizes.

I think if I was using Win2K Server, or Win2K3 I'd be able to overcome this issue easily...

madmag9999 · Post by **madmag9999** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:42 pm

i tried connecting my 2 comps with 3 lan cards. and i have win2k so i had the modem going in one card and then the other card would be going into the one card in the other comp. but the comp with the 2 lan cards only used one of them. so like i said befor i think its imposible to do it that way but maybe im wrong

mckeed · Post by **mckeed** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:48 pm

nope....routing and remote access won't let you do what you want in 2k. I don't know about 2k3. The routing in windows generally isn't very robust. You lose all sorts of abilitities to forward ranges of ports and whatnot. You might not be able to play many games that require a large rannge of ports to be open. I know i did. I did it for awhile in server2k and i know that doesn't work. There is no real good way of doing that in windows at least. The router is designed to do those sorts of things. Plus a server operating system would be real clunky to do any sort of normal computing on.

klinky · Post by **klinky** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 9:17 pm

You're looking for a multlink/bonded/aggregated ethernet/LAN solution. A cheaper router most likely will not give you this ability. The only *cheap* solution I can think of involves ethernet bonding in linux:

http://www.beowulf.org/software/bonding.html

Keep in mind though, even if you got it working you would not get the maximum bandwidth on a single connection. It's alot like having two CPUs in that, say you could be downloading two files @ 150KB/sec, but you could not get a single file @ 300KB/sec. Because each network interface has their own IP address and the protocol will only send back to a single card. Though you could possibly use a download accelerator to split up a single file, into many connections. Though alot of web admins wouldn't like this. Also p2p programs would probably benefit. The only problem is there isn't enough bandwidth on most of those to swamp a single cable line, much less two lines.

Lotsa hassle, cheap way, setup ifenslave, then ipchains on a linux computer and use it as a NAT device...

-Klinky

mckeed · Post by **mckeed** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 9:22 pm

Which is why i posted a link to a router which would do aggregating of connections