Can I use two internet connections in one computer?

Question

I have a T1 line and a DSL line here in my computer. I have 2 network cards. I would love to use the T1 upstream and the DSL downstream at the same time, as if it where one fast connection... is this possible?

I have to add that the T1 line is from Covad and the DSL from Bellsouth. So two different providers also.

Answer 1

Yes u can do it. Let me assume first that you have two NIC cards and both the lines are got from the same ISP.

Now in the PC make the default route to point to the internet gateway of the T1 line ISP. In DOS Prompt add this default route,
route ADD 0.0.0.0 MASK 0.0.0.0 METRIC 2 IF 2

Now ask your ISP to forward the packet destined to your LAN IP through the DSL connection (it is possible by them, because i too worked in an ISP)

Answer 2

I don't think what you want is really possible without having both links pass through a dual WAN router. There's lots of models available, such as Hawking's H2BR4 or Edimax's BR-6524. Linksys also makes dual WAN routers, but I can't remember the model number right now. Try googling for "dual WAN" to see more results.

Hawking's H2BR4 retails at around $60.

Without you talking to both ISPs, it might not be possible to make one link upstream and the other one downstream exclusively, or else the two ISPs will need to talk to each other, create a VPN for you, and charge you more. Otherwise, requests that come out of one link will normally receive replies back in that same link.

Answer 3

Your computer only uses one line at a time. The line it uses is the line that is recieving the best signal and the fastest connection. I do hope that they do allow dual connection in the future but untill then you are only allowed 1 internet connection at a time.

I do know for a fact that you can have 2 ethernet connections conencted to the computer to the router. However one will be used for the internet and the second line will be used if you need to access network computers or network printer.

Answer 4

yes you can make it possible by limiting the scope of both the NICs using the any third party utility.