Adv question: Using multiple network cards

[griffix]

I am running windows XP, and have 3 network cards in my system. The each have an IP address and are connected to the internet. I would like to determine which network card is being used when using internet explorer or typing "ping", etc.

More importantly, I would like to be able to switch between cards without disabling or removing any of them. Does anyone know how I can do this?

Ultimately, I wish to be able to run different applications over different cards. For example, I would like to run IE over one card, and run ping on a different card.

Pointers to documentation containing this kind of information would be particularly helpful.

Thanks!

[computerbob]

My initial thought was - what is the purpose? From your initial post it seems that this is a desktop application and not a server issue - you are not running different subnets or segments on your network.... so what is the point? You may be causing more random network traffic by having multiple adapters all trying to service the same system and you are going to lose the efficiency of allowing the best card in the system to manage the packets in and out... and why confuse the sh*t out of your switch or router? I see no point in this excercise at all except that maybe you have a bit too much time on your hands... this is one of those times when you have to realize than just because you "can" does not mean that you "should".

Originally Posted by griffix

I am running windows XP, and have 3 network cards in my system. The each have an IP address and are connected to the internet. I would like to determine which network card is being used when using internet explorer or typing "ping", etc.

More importantly, I would like to be able to switch between cards without disabling or removing any of them. Does anyone know how I can do this?

Ultimately, I wish to be able to run different applications over different cards. For example, I would like to run IE over one card, and run ping on a different card.

Pointers to documentation containing this kind of information would be particularly helpful.

Thanks!

[jakeriosat]

I am trying to set up three nic's on my computer but I want to do it to monitor the network that I work fore, instead of having it on three computers I want it on one

[JoshtheGeek]

I have a similar issue. I have two adapters in a Windows 2003 server. One is used for standard network communications. I wish to use the other adapter for a sniffer application. How can a configure Windows to only send network traffic across the primary adapter?

[glenikins]

Hi there,

I have a similar question. I have a PC with two adapters, one connected to the company LAN through which a connection to the internet is achieved, the other connected to a small control network.

The adapter for the company LAN is configured to use DHCP for automatic allocation of an address etc. The adapter for the smaller network is configured with a fixed IP address, mask, and gateway. The two adapters are using different subnets.

We have been using "ping" to fault-find issues with the networks but have discovered that "ping" (and other Windows networking components) seem to default to use just one of the adapters, and will not try to reach out on both. On disabling the adapter that "ping" is insisting on using and then re-enabling it, then trying "ping" again, it seems to have "jumped" to the other adapter.

My query boils down to this - is it possible to determine which adapter on a system a particular application will use?