Single Network Interface Card Limitations with WLBS

ID: Q197999

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition
Windows NT Load Balancing Service

SUMMARY

The limitations described in this article apply only when multicast cluster media access control address support is disabled and you are using only one network interface card in each cluster host.

MORE INFORMATION

If you disable multicast support, you should install a dedicated network interface card (NIC) to handle cluster traffic to achieve optimum performance and the full range of networking functionality. Although it is possible to have a successful cluster installation with only one NIC, there are two limitations to this approach:

Computers within the cluster will not be able to communicate among themselves with any networking protocol, not just TCP/IP. This can be a special problem if one or more of the clustered servers also act as primary and backup domain controllers.

Networking traffic destined to individual servers within the cluster will generate additional networking overhead for all computers in the cluster.

These limitations may not be important for many installations. If the computers within the cluster are only accessed from outside the cluster (that is, there are no intracluster communications) and noncluster communications are infrequent (for example, short nightly updates of the Web server content to individual computers in the cluster), the use of a single networking card should be sufficient. Also, it is always possible to test and demo Windows NT Load Balancing Service (WLBS) using a single network card prior to installing additional cards for operational purposes.

Additional query words: Convoy


Keywords          : 
Version           : winnt:4.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: February 26, 1999