Multihomed Servers Not on Same Subnet Causes Disconnects

ID: Q193590

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

A Microsoft NetShow Theater Server using multiple Network Interface Cards (NICs) or ports that are configured to operate over the same IP subnet, but that are not all connected to the same physical IP subnet may cause Theater Server application layer disconnect issues.

MORE INFORMATION

When an IP datagram is sent from a multihomed host, it is handed down to the interface card with the best apparent route to the destination. Accordingly, the datagram may bear the source IP address of one interface in the multihomed host, yet be placed on the media by a different NIC. The source MAC address on the frame will be that of the NIC that actually transmitted the frame onto the media, and the source IP address will be the one that the sending application sourced it from, not necessarily one of the those associated with the sending NIC.

If one or more of these NICs are configured with the same IP subnet, but are not connected to the same physical subnet, a disconnect issue may occurs with Theater Server. This issue is not specific to Theater Server; it can occur with any network application.

Keywords          :  
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: October 6, 1998