is it possible 2 use 2 ethernet connections 2 double internet bandwidth?

Question

I just built a computer with an asus motherboard that has 2 ethernet connections on board is there some type of software i can use to connect both to my router and they will shar the bandwidth???????? i am using vista home premium thanx

Answer 1

I am not a Vista user, but on XP and 2000 you can connect multiple ethernet adaptors, and if one card is busy or congested the other will handle the transaction (this is based on a metric assigned to the card), BUT your home connection is nowhere near as fast as your onboard ethernet, unless you are sharing files locally you will never need the extra bandwidth.

Answer 2

I can't speak for Vista Home Premium, but on Windows XP it might not be possible, because of the differences in the bandwidth. It is not like adding two bandwidths to get one bigger one. They would have to alternate from one to another, not work together. As one becomes too busy, it would shift to the second ethernet connection. Check with C-Net and other websites to determine if there is software that automatically shifts from one ethernet connection to another. Otherwise, maybe some additional hardware or chip might be needed. Good luck.

Answer 3

Although you can use two ethernet cards on the same computer your internet bandwidth is limited to the maximum speed your internet connection can handle.

Note: There are eight bits in a byte. So, 8 megabits per second equals 1 Megabyte per second.

For example, you can have two gigabit ethernet cards (these cards can run a 1,000 megabits per second) connected to a gigabit router. The speed for file transfers with other computers connected to your router will increase substantially (assuming your router has gigabit ports and the other computer also has a gigabit card). But, a cablemodem with "boost" or Verizon Fios (both with the extra charge faster service plan) is limited to 20 megabits per second download and 5 megabits per second upload. So, you won't see a substantial increase for home use. If you really need a blazing fast connection the last option is to pay for two cablemodems (with two cables run to your house). -Good Luck.

Answer 4

Simple answer is, while you might be able to team the NICs (what you are asking to do), the fastest home internet connection I know of is 50 Mbit - through Verizon FIOS. If you have a new computer, then ONE of those ethernet connections can likely handle 1000 Mbit - 20x faster than your internet connection. And your router's WAN port is going to be EQUAL to ONE port that you use to plug your computer in... so even if you had 100 Mbit internet connection (and I know of no such home connection - business, sure - for $10,000 month or more), then you would still be limited by the router.

Answer 5

No, with that hardware you could run a private network on one connection, and have internet on another, but, since you're asking, I doubt that you have a network that would require a dedicated connection. Further, simply connecting your router to the two ports would not increase the speed of your connection, as, I'm guessing, you don't have an internet connection that maxes out the network bandwidth of even a single 100mbs line.

Answer 6

I dont think it can double your bandwidth. A double ethernet connection is usually for pairing off computers. E.g. One computer has an internet connection through one cable and another computer is connection to that computer via that second ethernet connection.

Here's a discussion on this issue on a forum. Hope you find it helpful.
http://www.slcentral.com/boards/hardware/536-2-ethernet-cards.html

Answer 7

Not easily. The reason why your motherboard has two network adapters is not usually for combining speed. It is most likely for use as a diversity route if one of the two connections goes down or it is provided so that you can make the system a firewall.

In the case of a firewall, one adapter would be used to access the LAN side of your network while the other the WAN side of your network. Your machine then, with the appropriate software installed, would be the gatekeeper between the Internet and your LAN.

Answer 8

No there isn't because your Internet connection will never be as fast as your Ethernet. Your Ethernet is usually at least 10 times faster than you Internet if you are lucky. So connecting two cables to your router is no benefit.

Answer 9

I believe it would be possible. Just put a cable for each one in your computer's ethernet ports. Then go to the Local Area Network window in your computer (it should be in the taskbar) and make sure they are both activated and connected.

Answer 10

Unless your router uses QoS settings then you will always get maximum bandwith at all times with one card.

Only time you would need that is if you move files to other places on your own network and you move a lot of stuff. Im talking huge. 10mb/s is pretty quick.