>>>We would like to improve the network availability of our NT server. Currently we have a lot of collisions and delays due to peak times in network traffic. We use IP only.
>>>We want to put in three network cards each into the two main servers: two for the normal users (200 MBit instead of 100 MBit) and one dedicated to the developers.
>>>Our question now: If we connect two network cards to one switch (24 Port Netgear, dump switch), will that bring more performance and more availability (less waiting for free wire) or will it simply bring the same complete traffic identically to both cards? Is it better / worse if i connect two independant switches to the two netword cards?
>>>Am i right if i assume that i should reconfigure 50 percent of my stations to use the second IP address of the server?
>>>Joerg Karpa
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>>AFAIK, each port on the Netgear can be configured to operate on a different subnet so this should limit your collisions (unless it is one group that is causing all the traffic in the first place).
>>As I said above, you should try and determine who is generating all the traffic before you segment them. For example, if your developers are the ones doing all the network IO then segmenting them off in their own world won't do much for poerformance. You may have to give the developers two segments and others only one.
>>Just some thoughts.
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>I thought segmenting can be done with switches? If all users are on one backbone switch, they shouldn't affect each other. One needlehole seems to be the 100 MBit connection from switch to server, and that is where i hope two NICs will help.
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>jk

Segmenting must be done at the IP level as well as the swtich.

Whenever a broadcast request goes out from a workstation, all machines on that subnet get the IP message. It doesn't matter if they are off a different port on the swicth. The swicth will make sure they get full trhoughput for that request, but it still could lead to collisions. IP subnets block braodcast requests. They aren't routed.

IMO, just adding the switch will speed up the network (somewhat) but it won't stop the collisions. If that's what you want, go for it.