Onboard multiple ethernet ports?

[tel1jag]

Hopefully, this isn't taken as too obvious a question, but what is everyone doing with multiple built in ethernet ports for the home rig. In a coporate environment, I certainly understand the need for being directly attached to a couple (or more different networks)...i.e. one being for maintenance, or backup, or for a tiered architecture...


However, I am shopping for a new system (considering a P45) and I notice that a couple have 4 ethernet ports??? Even if I figure one's for the main internet and one's possible a direct attachment to a home NAS or SAN, what would you do with the other 2?

Is there the abilitly to smartly trunk them in XP?

Anyway, any opinions would be welcome.

Thank you.

--Jeff

 

[zenmaster]

I doubt you could trunk any of the NICs.
Nor do I see any need for the extra ports.

The only reason I see for all of them would be a "do it yourself" server some small companies that don't want to spend the cash for a real server.

 

[rockbyter]

i use the second for VM's, and hooking in to other peoples networks while maintaining my own. private network on one side, internet through the other port. It opens doors, but most systems it just gathers dust.