Can a computer support 3 PCI Ethernet cards - GoFuckYourself.com

riosluts · 08-30-2004, 04:19 PM

all at the same time or will there be problems?

Goose · 08-30-2004, 04:19 PM

I've got two in my PC, and didn't have any problems at all.
So three should also be alright IMHO.

Apache_A · 08-30-2004, 04:20 PM

Depends on the Cards and the OS, but you'll probably be fine

chri$tian · 08-30-2004, 04:27 PM

Make sure there all the same model..

riosluts · 08-30-2004, 05:23 PM

because i am getting problems. I have to basically disable one of them so the other two can work. Only two at a time can work? Maybe it some comflics or something?

sarettah · 08-30-2004, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by riosluts
because i am getting problems. I have to basically disable one of them so the other two can work. Only two at a time can work? Maybe it some comflics or something?

Probably a conflict. I know I have had at least 4 working in the same box at once but don't ask how we got it set up because that was like 5 years or so ago.

acctman · 08-30-2004, 05:30 PM

it can support all three. having all 3 the same brand may make things a little confusing one cause you won't know which is which. my server (mini shuttle box) has the option for two lan port but i only needed one. right now i'm running with the LAN and Wifi active no problem.

excitica · 08-30-2004, 05:46 PM

i have a three network card - wireless, DVB and local ethernet - no problem

but i think you'll have some problems with 3 ethernet cards

TexasDreams · 08-30-2004, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by riosluts
all at the same time or will there be problems?

I've done a W2K Server box with 4, all of them the same brand of 3Com. Had to do this registry hack for load balancing across all of the cards.

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kba...ptercards.html

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters
Name: RandomAdapter
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1 enable

detroitiron · 08-30-2004, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TexasDreams
I've done a W2K Server box with 4, all of them the same brand of 3Com. Had to do this registry hack for load balancing across all of the cards.

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kba...ptercards.html

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters
Name: RandomAdapter
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1 enable

Nice find!

jimmyf · 08-30-2004, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Goose
I've got two in my PC, and didn't have any problems at all.
So three should also be alright IMHO.

yep I've had two also, i

riosluts · 08-30-2004, 06:20 PM

giving this thread a bump

riosluts · 08-30-2004, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TexasDreams
I've done a W2K Server box with 4, all of them the same brand of 3Com. Had to do this registry hack for load balancing across all of the cards.

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kba...ptercards.html

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key: SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters
Name: RandomAdapter
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1 enable

i dotn think that works for winxp, since I dont have the RandomAdapter regedit

Kard63 · 08-30-2004, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by riosluts
giving this thread a bump

Yes you can, you will likely get an IRQ conflict but thats easily fixed. Since you would be capable of tansfering SOOO much you might not have enough processing power to send and full speed with all, then you might need some balancing tweak/hack.

riosluts · 08-30-2004, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by riosluts
i dotn think that works for winxp, since I dont have the RandomAdapter regedit

ahh nevermind i found this thread http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/Art...258/23258.html and it says to add that RandomAdapter

riosluts · 08-30-2004, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kard63
Yes you can, you will likely get an IRQ conflict but thats easily fixed. Since you would be capable of tansfering SOOO much you might not have enough processing power to send and full speed with all, then you might need some balancing tweak/hack.

actually no. I would only use probably 2 at a time at "max capacity" the reason why I want all 3 to work is because I don't want to switch around between them. Where can I get these IRQ conflicts fixed? Device Properties?

TexasDreams · 08-30-2004, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by riosluts
ahh nevermind i found this thread http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/Art...258/23258.html and it says to add that RandomAdapter

There's a bunch of TCP/IP registry parameters that are not set by default. This knowledge base article (WinXP) lists them all.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314053

gwilkins · 08-30-2004, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by riosluts
actually no. I would only use probably 2 at a time at "max capacity" the reason why I want all 3 to work is because I don't want to switch around between them. Where can I get these IRQ conflicts fixed? Device Properties?

For winXP you can click through the adapters manually in start/administrative tools/Computer Management /Device Manager. While your there have a look at the event viewer for funky errors from your network stuff.

Some older motherboards (BX chipset comes to mind) have a PCI slot that isn't very co-operative. It's one of the middle slot and should be documented as a 'non busmastering' slot. That problem has caused me huge headaches in the past installing multiple video capture cards.

riosluts · 08-30-2004, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gwilkins
For winXP you can click through the adapters manually in start/administrative tools/Computer Management /Device Manager. While your there have a look at the event viewer for funky errors from your network stuff.

Some older motherboards (BX chipset comes to mind) have a PCI slot that isn't very co-operative. It's one of the middle slot and should be documented as a 'non busmastering' slot. That problem has caused me huge headaches in the past installing multiple video capture cards.

is there anyway to check if I have a BX chipset?

gwilkins · 08-30-2004, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by riosluts
is there anyway to check if I have a BX chipset?

Look up your motherboard documentation and they may have documented it. The manufacturer, model #, and revision # should be on the board.

It might be a different problem but that's what I would look at next. Try searching GFY for 'Agent White'. He seems to know his networking ;)

08-30-2004, 04:19 PM	#1
riosluts Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 5,250	Can a computer support 3 PCI Ethernet cards all at the same time or will there be problems? __________________

08-30-2004, 04:19 PM	#2
Goose Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: --------Europe------- Posts: 5,725	I've got two in my PC, and didn't have any problems at all. So three should also be alright IMHO. __________________ ICQ: 52410619

08-30-2004, 04:20 PM	#3
Apache_A Confirmed User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 434	Depends on the Cards and the OS, but you'll probably be fine __________________ ICQ:2116226

08-30-2004, 04:27 PM	#4
chri$tian Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,468	Make sure there all the same model.. __________________ http://www.3dsex.com

08-30-2004, 05:23 PM	#5
riosluts Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 5,250	because i am getting problems. I have to basically disable one of them so the other two can work. Only two at a time can work? Maybe it some comflics or something? __________________

08-30-2004, 05:30 PM	#7
acctman Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,840	it can support all three. having all 3 the same brand may make things a little confusing one cause you won't know which is which. my server (mini shuttle box) has the option for two lan port but i only needed one. right now i'm running with the LAN and Wifi active no problem.

08-30-2004, 05:46 PM	#8
excitica Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 146	i have a three network card - wireless, DVB and local ethernet - no problem but i think you'll have some problems with 3 ethernet cards __________________ too much love will kill you... ICQ 9779478

08-30-2004, 06:20 PM	#12
riosluts Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 5,250	giving this thread a bump __________________