Redundant/Failover Ethernet Link from Windows Server to Switch

ethernetnetworking

I'm trying to set up a redundant link from my Windows server (Dell R710 with 4 GigE ports) to my Cisco switch. I'd like to "failover" in case the first Ethernet link fails (e.g. NIC issue, cable issue). How would I go about doing this? Didn't find much on Google. I'm using Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, if that matters.

Best Answer

If your switch supports it I'd recommending bonding the ports together. When you've got all 4 ports bonded you should be able to have any one of them go down, unless theres an issue with the nic, and the rest continue transmitting.

Here's a LINK to a pretty decent article on bonding your NICs. Here's a LINK to a wiki article on LACP, which is what your switch needs.