merge 2 internet connections into 1 network?

[681]

is it possible to merge 2 seperate internet connections (dsl) into 1 local network... like if i have (2) 2Mbps connection would i be able to merge them to cater to 50 computers?
Sizzors thank you for the reply... it was very informative... but can i ask if i do a load balancer (which a friend also suggested) what would be the outcome of the (2) 2mbps connection... like you said they wont come out as 4mb... would they come out as 25 units on 2mb and the other 25 units on another 2mb? would all 50 units still be able to see each other on LAN? im doing this for a feasibility study for an internet cafe..

thank you

[sizzors]

You are not clear on what you are expecting to achive in combining the two connections. You do not get 4Mbps if that was your goal. You would get the ability to download 2 separate files at 2Mbps rather than one perhaps. You can't double the bandwidth for a single use, only provide twice the connections.


If you are serving 50 computers you might be more interested in Network Load balancing at the server/router level. This would be the most appropriate use of two separate ISP connections. Its going to be about how much money you want to spend on Gear and software. Recomend a Cisco multiple Wan router if you dont do a Server. Either way you will set a metric to when the other connection is utiliizied. ( Most servers have software built in)

You could try to double home a individual Nic card or install two Nic cards per machine, but who wants to admin 100 plus nic cards and the associated settings for each application that wants a internet connection. Most application software usually locks in one single connection if it needs to reach out to the Net and would need your intervention to set or change it. Its going to want to default. If you wanted to create yourself a job I suppose that would be a way of doing it.

Easier to utilize two Nic cards in the Server, or Admin the connections at the Multiple Wan router. You could then traffic shape by allowing or deny routes based on IP's outgoing requests.