spare ethernet port

tcma · 01-04-2005, 09:09 PM

I have two computers. Both connects to a 4-port boardband router which connect to a cable modem (which then connect to the internet). One computer has two ethernet ports so it has a spare ethernet port.
What is the advantage of connecting the spare ethernet port to the third port of the boardband router?
Will it speed up internet access or network access between my two computers?
Or it just provide redundancy (in case the other ethernet port fail)?

amfoster · 01-05-2005, 06:45 AM

There will be no benefit at all speed wise, Yes, you will have a redundant connection if one is down. You will be able to control wha services go to what card though.

Perhaps 192.168.1.100 is the first, but you want any connections to your web server to be through 192.168.1.101 for logging purposes.

Or, with 2 interfaces, you may want to have that box be the router to a net under the second card.

If nothing else, It will be a good learning tool for setting up a router or VPN