Configuring Multiple Adapters on the Same Physical Network (258487)

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A Windows 2000-based computer can be multihomed with several network adapters, with one acting as the primary and others acting as backup adapters while connected to the same TCP/IP network.

You configure this by assigning a metric to each adapter in the TCP/IP configuration settings. By default, a metric of 1 is configured on all installed network adapters. An adapter with a lower metric is always used to communicate with another computer if more than one network adapter can be used to reach the same destination computer.

For example, if there are two network adapters in a Windows 2000-based computer connected to the same physical network with IP addresses in the same logical subnet, to reach another computer, an adapter with the lowest metric is always selected. If adapter A has a metric of 1 and adapter B has a metric of 2, adapter A is selected to reach another computer on that network because it has a lower metric. In this case, adapter A is the primary adapter and adapter B is the backup. If adapter A fails, all traffic is directed through adapter B automatically.

You can configure multiple default gateway addresses in a similar way by adjusting the metric on each default gateway address. The default gateway with the lowest metric becomes the primary default gateway.

To change the metric on an adapter:

1. Open the Network and Dial-up Connections folder.
2. Right click the local area connection you want to modify, and then click Properties.
3. Click Internet Protocol, and then click Properties.
4. Click Advanced.
5. In the Adapter Metric box, type the appropriate value.
6. If you need to change the default gateway metric, click the gateway address in the Default Gateways box, and then click Edit.
7. Type the appropriate metric value, and then click OK.
8. Click OK.