Including Support for Teaming Network Adapters

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Many hardware vendors support teaming network adapters to increase network bandwidth capacity and to provide an additional level of network redundancy. Teaming network adapters are multiple network adapters in the same computer that logically act as a single, virtual network adapter. The virtual network adapter can provide load balancing of traffic between the physical network adapters or automatic failover in the event that one of the network adapters fails.

Teaming network adapter drivers and Network Load Balancing both try to manipulate the MAC addresses of the network adapters. As a result, teaming network adapters might work only in limited configurations. As a general rule, avoid including teaming network adapters in your Network Load Balancing solutions.

Note

  • Because each implementation of teaming network adapters is vendor-specific, the support for teaming network adapters is provided by the hardware vendor, and it is beyond the scope of Microsoft Product Support Services. For more information about teaming network adapters in your Network Load Balancing solution, consult the teaming network adapter hardware recommendations.