NLB Operations Affect All Network Adapters on the Server

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

SUMMARY

Certain network load balancing (NLB) operations affect all network adapters detected on the computer. for example:

• Installing the NLB service on one network adapter.



• Disabling the NLB miniport driver in Device Manager.



• Uninstalling the NLB service on one network adapter.

MORE INFORMATION

When you install NLB, the intermediate driver is actually installed on all network adapters, not just the network adapter used to provide the service. The driver's binding is disabled on all network adapters not selected for NLB operations.

NLB is implemented as a service, and services are system-wide entities. On a computer with multiple network adapters using NLB, the service is removed from the computer if the service is removed from one of the network adapter's properties. To remove the service from only one network adapter, disable the NLB binding for that network adapter.

When you disable the NLB miniport driver in Device Manager, TCP/IP does get reconnected to the network adapter directly. Network connectivity is lost because disabling a filter driver disrupts the internal path of the data to the physical interface. Note that the "Network and Dial-up Connections" tool is the correct place to enable or disable a miniport driver.

Additional query words: nld services packet filter

Keywords : kbenv kbnetwork
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbinfo