So, I'm just starting to build a home server based on proper server components rather than consumer components. One thing I have noticed on this site is that the test servers and server motherboards often have more than one NIC, generally 2 on the motherboard and in some instances a few extra via add-in cards.
Whilst I can understand using 2 different networks in a live environment, e.g. splitting external / internet access vs internal file-sharing, I'm battling to understand why anyone would want so many NIC's in one server. Can someone please enlighten me as to their purpose and how they are used in practice? Right now I'm battling just two use 2 and may land up teaming them or just disabling one. However, I've also got a third (add-in PRO/1000PT single-port) now gathering dust, so if there's a way to use even 3 connections beneficially I'd like to do so - but how to do it? I understand that some of the Windows Server flavours don't support more than one NIC anyway (from what I've read on the 'net).
Whilst I can understand using 2 different networks in a live environment, e.g. splitting external / internet access vs internal file-sharing, I'm battling to understand why anyone would want so many NIC's in one server. Can someone please enlighten me as to their purpose and how they are used in practice? Right now I'm battling just two use 2 and may land up teaming them or just disabling one. However, I've also got a third (add-in PRO/1000PT single-port) now gathering dust, so if there's a way to use even 3 connections beneficially I'd like to do so - but how to do it? I understand that some of the Windows Server flavours don't support more than one NIC anyway (from what I've read on the 'net).