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I'm currently testing iSCSI with Intel Pro 1000 PT DualPort adapter. The performance is pretty well but is it possible to combine both ethernet ports to have a true 2Gbit link for the boot device? Intel documentation doesn't explain this.

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How about some detail, such as what OS you're talking about? – John Gardeniers Aug 8 '10 at 23:43
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What you want is multipath i/o (MPIO). There are different ways to configure this based on OS and san type and You're not giving us a lot of info to work on. Here's an article about iscsi mpio using microsoft's iscsi initiator and a Dell san. It should at least get you started.

http://www.delltechcenter.com/page/MPIO+to+PowerVault+MD3000i+with+Microsoft+iSCSI+Initiator

This is also good reading on why you shouldn't use link aggregation with iscsi:

http://virtualgeek.typepad.com/virtual_geek/2009/01/a-multivendor-post-to-help-our-mutual-iscsi-customers-using-vmware.html

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+1, If the NIC supports iSOE it might have built in MPIO, I know Broadcom NICs do (haven't used Intel, but expect they do). If there isn't iSOE then it's an OS function and Windows definitely support MPIO once enabled; most *nix OSes do as well. – Chris S♦ Aug 8 '10 at 22:33
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up vote -2 down vote

That's typically through a combination of OS software and networking equipment to accomplish that - a.k.a. channel bonding, ether channeling, trunking, etc.

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-1 sorry but iscsi shouldn't use trunking. – Jason Berg Aug 8 '10 at 22:16
I guess you missed the "etc..." – user48838 Aug 8 '10 at 22:23
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All the terms you listed are synonyms for link aggregation, which should not be used with iscsi. What did you mean to indicate by saying "etc"? – Jason Berg Aug 8 '10 at 22:30
"a combination of OS software and networking equipment" Are you saying/stating MPIO is anything different? – user48838 Aug 9 '10 at 0:50
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