What is the supported network configuration?

The supported network configuration for Windows SBS 2011 Essentials is:

Network adapter teaming

The Windows SBS 2011 Essentials networking wizards do not support network adapter teaming

Some hardware manufacturers provide network adapters and drivers that feature fault tolerance technology. You can use fault tolerance technology to group network adapter ports for a connection to a single physical segment. This is known as “network adapter teaming.” If connectivity through one port does not work, another port is automatically activated to handle the connection. This process is transparent to the operating system and to other devices on the network.

The Windows SBS 2011 Essentials networking wizards such as the Remote Web Access wizard do not support network adapter teaming because it is a scenario that is not typically used in a small business environment.

If you choose to configure network adapter teaming, you should not do so until after you install the server and complete all of the server configuration tasks.

In addition, you should not use the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials networking wizards after you configure adapter teaming because doing this will have an unknown effect on the team.

Important

Because the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials networking wizards do not support network adapter teaming, if you configure adapter teaming and then require assistance from Microsoft support, you will be instructed to remove the network adapter team, and then to use the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials networking wizards to correctly configure the server for the network.

To remove a network team

  1. Uninstall the network teaming software, and then restart the server when you are prompted.

  2. Use Device Manager to uninstall the virtual network adapter, and then restart the server when you are prompted.