NICteamingin

NIC teaming, also known as network interface card teaming, link aggregation, port trunking, or bonding, is a networking technique that combines multiple network interface controllers (NICs) into a single logical interface. This logical interface can then be used by the operating system and applications as if it were a single network connection. The primary goals of NIC teaming are to increase network bandwidth and provide network redundancy.

By aggregating multiple NICs, the total throughput available to the system is increased. For example, teaming two 1 Gbps NICs can theoretically provide a combined bandwidth of 2 Gbps, although the actual performance depends on the teaming mode and the network switch configuration. This increased bandwidth is particularly beneficial for high-traffic servers, storage devices, and other network-intensive applications.

Network redundancy is another key advantage. If one NIC in the team fails, or if the network cable or switch port connected to it malfunctions, the remaining NICs in the team can continue to provide network connectivity. This failover mechanism ensures uninterrupted network access and enhances the reliability of the system. Different teaming modes offer varying levels of fault tolerance and load balancing.

Common NIC teaming modes include active-backup, which uses one NIC at a time and fails over to another if the primary fails, and load balancing, which distributes network traffic across multiple NICs to improve performance and provide redundancy. The specific implementation and configuration options for NIC teaming can vary depending on the operating system and the NIC drivers.