DOCUMENT:Q254101 08-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :Network Adapter Teaming and Server Clustering PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::2000,4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbhw kbHardware w2000mscs kbClustering ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server - Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= There are network adapters and accompanying drivers available from some hardware manufacturers to provide fault tolerance. This technology allows you to group network adapter ports for a connection to a single physical segment. If connectivity through one port is not working, another port is activated automatically. This operation is transparent to the operating system and other devices on the network. Support for the fault-tolerant technology (the hardware and the drivers) is provided by the hardware manufacturer. MORE INFORMATION ================ The use of teaming on the private interconnect of a server cluster is not supported because of delays that could possibly occur in the transmission and receipt of heartbeat packets between the nodes. For best results when you want redundancy for the private interconnect, disable teaming and use the available ports to form a second private interconnect. This achieves the same end result and provides dual, robust communication paths for the nodes to communicate over. Using teaming on the public or client networks is acceptable. However, if problems or issues seem to be related to teaming, Microsoft Product Support Services will require that teaming be disabled. If this resolves the problem or issue, you must seek assistance from the hardware manufacturer. For more information, see the online documentation about hardware compatibility tests on the Microsoft Web site. Additional query words: mscs nic teaming compaq server cluster netflex ====================================================================== Keywords : kbhw kbHardware w2000mscs kbClustering Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbwin2000AdvServ kbwin2000AdvServSearch kbwin2000DataServ kbwin2000DataServSearch kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbwin2000Search kbWinAdvServSearch kbWinDataServSearch Version : :2000,4.0 Issue type : kbinfo ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.