Connect via both WiFi and Ethernet for optimal performance.
Connect via both WiFi and Ethernet for optimal performance.
In college, your dorm uses separate internet networks for the building and campus areas, each with its own provider. Speed tests from Ookla show different providers for each network. You have both WiFi and Ethernet connections and can use them together. It’s possible to merge these connections to boost your download speeds, though results may vary.
Windows would choose the best available connection and proceed accordingly. This decision stems from how the Windows kernel manages networking, interfaces, and connections. It would be inefficient and overly complex for each program to handle multiple network addresses simultaneously, similar to needing a dedicated address for every parcel—impractical without centralized management. The system is designed to use only one active connection at a time, which aligns with typical operating system behavior.
It's achievable with multi-WAN on pfSense, though it involves:
- Setting up a pfSense machine (could cost or save money but needs some effort and time)
- Setting up multi-WAN (refer to the documentation for details: https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/late...cepts.html, focusing on load balancing if you're interested)
- Relying on networking settings to balance traffic correctly
- Spending time troubleshooting issues, which might be slower than using a single connection.
Balancing traffic differs from link bonding, which I believe the questioner is aiming to accomplish. Link bonding usually requires a service provider, making it practical only for businesses, not students. It’s unlikely your school will permit network usage in this manner. I recommend relying on wired connections for bandwidth and latency-critical work, while using WiFi for other tasks. If you need a quicker connection—such as for coursework—reach out to the campus IT team to explore options.