Does Windows 8 support LACP (NIC teaming)

EastCoastMaster

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I am in the process of setting up a Windows Home Server using an Intel-based micro atx board and plan to put a 4 NIC Intel Server PCI-e card in it, and "team" the four NIC's for a max throughput of 4gb/s. I am also building another Desktop. This will be my "main" PC and is going to be very high end with an ASUS Z87 Expert motherboard and the unlocked Haswell i7 CPU. I plan to install a 4 NIC Intel Server PCI-e card in that as well (and set up teaming) so I can get an effective 4gb/s transfer rate between the new PC and Windows Home Server. The rest of the house will have a standard gigabit connection. And yes, I have a switch that supports LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol or "teaming").

Anyway's bottom line is should I install Windows 7 or Windows 8 on my new Desktop PC? I would prefer to install Windows 8, but I was told by someone on another forum (smallnetbuilder.com) that they thought LACP was not supported by Windows 8 and that I would need to use Windows 7. I searched all over the web, but I can't get a clear cut answer to my question. Anyone know for sure?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    XP - Windows 8. Depends on the PC.
NIC teaming is limited to the Windows Server operations and is not in the Windows Client (7 and 8) OS. :(

That is the default NIC teaming method that can offer you the choice to use LACP or to use switch independent so that each interface can be on different switches.

That being said some manufacturers make certain drivers to allow NIC teaming on client operating systems however I am not sure whether it supports the LACP protocol.

Josh
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit ; Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2400 @ 3.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Foxconn H67MP-S/-V/H67MP (CPU 1)
    Memory
    8.0GB DDR3 @ 665MHz (2GBx4)
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    AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series (Sapphire/PCPartner)
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SMB1930NW + AOC 2243W
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 + 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    977GB Seagate ST31000524AS ATA Device (SATA)
    250GB WD iSCSI attached drive
    PSU
    750W PSU
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    Novatech Night
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    Dell Standard PS/2 Keyboard
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    R.A.T 7 Gaming Mouse
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    Google Chrome
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    Optiarc DVD RW AD-5260S ATA Device
Well, you should be fine :) That is if there is a management console allowing setup since Windows 8 doesn't have one.

Of course I am assuming the switch can support LACP as well? Otherwise it wouldn't work

Josh :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit ; Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2400 @ 3.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Foxconn H67MP-S/-V/H67MP (CPU 1)
    Memory
    8.0GB DDR3 @ 665MHz (2GBx4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series (Sapphire/PCPartner)
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SMB1930NW + AOC 2243W
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 + 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    977GB Seagate ST31000524AS ATA Device (SATA)
    250GB WD iSCSI attached drive
    PSU
    750W PSU
    Case
    Novatech Night
    Keyboard
    Dell Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    R.A.T 7 Gaming Mouse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD RW AD-5260S ATA Device
:rolleyes: :zip: Haha
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit ; Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2400 @ 3.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Foxconn H67MP-S/-V/H67MP (CPU 1)
    Memory
    8.0GB DDR3 @ 665MHz (2GBx4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series (Sapphire/PCPartner)
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SMB1930NW + AOC 2243W
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 + 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    977GB Seagate ST31000524AS ATA Device (SATA)
    250GB WD iSCSI attached drive
    PSU
    750W PSU
    Case
    Novatech Night
    Keyboard
    Dell Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    R.A.T 7 Gaming Mouse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD RW AD-5260S ATA Device
Yes the teaming function would have to be included with the drivers as it's not installed at the software level in Windows 7 or 8.

You might find this functionality in older Windows 7 or Vista network drivers, but teaming was abandoned long ago driver wise in Windows 7. The old NVidia drivers had this function working but it was way back in the Vista days. Not sure about Intel drivers but I doubt the current drivers for Windows 7 will support teaming.

The following link shows how to set up teaming in server 2012.
NIC Teaming in Windows Server 2012 :: Windows Server 2012 :: Articles & Tutorials :: WindowsNetworking.com
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
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