Multi-port NIC for server

[hostpath]

Can anyone point me in the direction of an inexpensive multi-port PCI NIC for a server? At least two ports.

 

[sep]

I don't know of a card that has multiple ports. Do you only have one PCI slot? Usually you have a card per IP Address or Network.

-JC

 

[reicherb]

Originally posted by: sep
Usually you have a card per IP Address or Network.

 

[skyking]

I have a Phobos 4 port nic, uses all intel chips and drivers. They do not make them anymore. Intel still makes some two port nics.
What OS are you running? The intel chipsets are not friendly with unix/freebsd. They are natively supported in 2k/xp.

 

[hostpath]

Redhat OS.

 

[skyking]

I'd get two redhat friendly nics in your case. No use fighting with flakey drivers.

 

[Abzstrak]

I'd suggest an intel dual or an adaptec quad port

inexpensive is unfortunately not a word used with such nics

 

[spidey07]

The intel dual port nics are pretty cheap. With superb drivers that support teaming, fail-over and ether-channelling of upto 4 ports.

Really incredible NICs.

If you want load balancing or fault-tolerance they really are nice for intel platforms.

Suns quad-port NIC is very nice for sun boxes as well.

 

[skyking]

Spidey, is there good support in redhat for the intel nics? I have this 4 port that is spare to me now, I run freebsd and it does not play well with intel.

 

[spidey07]

skyking,

I don't have any experience with the intel NICs in anything other than wintel and sun. sorry...

Maybe try intel's support pages and sift through driver release notes?

 

[mobly99]

The Compaq/HP NC3134 is a nice Dual port 10/100 NIC, which can be expanded with a daughtercard that allows you to add 2 more 10/100 ports (total of 4 ports) or single GigE SX or T module. They are based off of the Intel 82559 chip.

-Dave

 

[alrox]

Originally posted by: skyking
Spidey, is there good support in redhat for the intel nics? I have this 4 port that is spare to me now, I run freebsd and it does not play well with intel.

Intel 10/100 NIC's have been supported just fine under freebsd for years using the fxp driver. The 10/100/1000 intels use the em driver without problems as well.

 

[osage]

how about this ? inexpensive ? well ,not bad for what it is.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: skyking
I'd get two redhat friendly nics in your case. No use fighting with flakey drivers.

Dang straight. As much as I love playing with Red Hat 8.0, I have to admit that drivers are a little too much fun at times.

 

[cmetz]

Get a quad-tulip NIC. Look for D-Link DFE-570TX (NOT 580), Znyx (all?) or other 21140/21143-based with 21152 bridge. These go very cheap used on EBay. Also the Matrox quad-port board is a safe bet. These can be found reasonably cheap on EBay, too. I use both with *BSD and Linux and they work fine.

Unfortunately, NEW, quad-port boards are expensive, because they're a niche product.