Two NICs each supporting 10Gbps speeds.
Two NICs each supporting 10Gbps speeds.
I'm still struggling with this. I move big files between servers, about half a terabyte each time. My current speed is 2.5 Gbps, and I'm used to speeds above 1 Gbps. I'm considering upgrading to 10 Gbps, but the NICs have dual slots. The switch I'm evaluating is an affordable Unifi aggregation device, which supposedly can combine two ports for double the bandwidth—though I'm not sure what features to prioritize for dual NICs. Should I look for a way to bridge the connections? Also, I plan to install an NVMe drive on the backup server to make use of the faster network. Are there specific protocols, terms, or recommendations I should consider? I can only use Windows on both machines.
We're employing SMB multichannel for optimal performance with dual NICs.
I occasionally rely on SMB, but most of my file moves happen via FTP with FileZilla since those connections offer steadier performance. The network cards I’m referring to feature two ports each. I’m curious if it’s possible to merge or pool their bandwidth together.
They're right, the folks on Reddit have already talked about it—Windows 10 and 11 don’t support link aggregation, which is why it’s not working. They were never meant to be free.
Consider implementing SMB multichannel for improved speed. It enables file copying at 20Gbps without managed switches, provided both devices support 10GbE and lack LACP.
The instructions don't show any actions needed to activate or operate SMB multichannel on Windows 11. It appears it's already set up by default, and you just need to link several network cards to a switch or another device. This process seems straightforward. However, I'm uncertain about forcing Windows to use a dedicated dual NIC for transfers instead of the built-in one. Keeping the motherboard powered on is necessary for RDC. It's unclear why this would boost FTP speeds. The x-3 chips are inexpensive, under $20 per card. Although Windows 11 lacks native driver support, I think an older Windows version might work. The x-4 model is newer and still supported, matching its price. I'm still puzzled about configuring Windows to rely on a Mellanox card for transfers rather than the internal NIC. I need the physical port for RDC. Perhaps I can make the FTP server assign a different IP address than the one DHCP provides.
40g cards are affordable, QSFP ports exist. A DAC cable costs about $42 for a dual 40g + 1m cable from entrex. There are also SFP28 cards available (single or dual 25Gbps), which are cheaper and more current than the $44 QLogic Dual Port SFP28 NIC. You can find the Mellanox ConnectX-4 adapter on eBay for $53 with a passive heatsink, supporting 25GbE SFP28 dual ports. Alternatives include the Mellanox CX4121A Dual Port SFP28 at $54 and the Mellanox single 50g low-profile model for $89. Prices for transceivers range from around $25 for multimode fiber options, or you can buy Micas 25G-SFP28 modules for $39.
Reviewing your links feels like a bold move (or a risky bet), but I’m here to help you through it.