For many tasks in today’s digital world, like online gaming, streaming, remote work, and more, having a reliable and fast internet connection is crucial. Even the most dependable internet connection, though, might occasionally experience sporadic connectivity or slowdowns. Utilizing two network connections on your PC at once is one technique to get around these problems and guarantee continuous internet access. We’ll demonstrate how to set up and use two network connections on a single PC in this blog post, pooling their bandwidth to enhance overall performance.
Table of Contents
- How to Use Two Network Connections in One Pc, follow the steps
- Step 1: Check Network Adapters and Connections
- Step 2: Assign Priorities to Network Adapters
- Step 3: Set Up Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
- Step 4: Configure Load Balancing (Optional)
- How to Use of Network Bridging to combine two networks
- Load Balancing and Failover:
- Considerations for Load Balancing:
- Networking Hardware:
- Ethernet and Wi-Fi Combination:
- Testing and Monitoring:
- Conclusion
How to Use Two Network Connections in One Pc, follow the steps
Step 1: Check Network Adapters and Connections
Make sure your computer has two network adapters—either two Ethernet ports or one Ethernet and one Wi-Fi adapter—before continuing. Make that the internet is accessible and both connections are operating properly. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions or refer to the user manual of your PC if you need to configure a second network adapter.
Step 2: Assign Priorities to Network Adapters
The ability to prioritize network connections in Windows operating systems ensures that the PC will always use the connection with the highest priority while both connections are active. Here is how to go about it:
1. To open the Run dialog box, press the Windows key and R on your keyboard.
2. Press Enter after typing “ncpa.cpl”. The Network Connections window will open as a result.
3. Click on the two network connections you want to merge while holding down the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard in the Network Connections box.
4. Any network connection can be selected by right-clicking it and selecting “Bridge Connections.”
Step 3: Set Up Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
You can combine two network connections, such as Ethernet and Wi-Fi, using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). With the help of this feature, two connections can operate simultaneously, virtually doubling your internet speed. This is how to configure ICS:
1. To share a network connection with another device, first right-click the connection and choose “Properties.”
2. Select the “Sharing” tab in the Properties box.
3. Tick the box to the right of the statement, “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.”
4. Select the other network connection—the one without internet access—that you want to share with from the drop-down box.
5. Press “OK” to put the changes into effect.
Step 4: Configure Load Balancing (Optional)
You can use third-party software to accomplish load balancing, which will increase both download and upload speeds, using both network connections at once. “Speedify,” a VPN provider that can bind numerous connections, is one well-liked choice.
1. From the Speedify website, download and install the program.
2. Launch Speedify, then set up the connections as directed on the screen.
3. When the connections are set up, Speedify will shrewdly combine and manage the bandwidth from both connections to improve your internet speed as a whole.
How to Use of Network Bridging to combine two networks
This trick makes use of Network Bridging to combine two networks. This will, as a result, lead to an increase in internet speed.
Step 1 – Open Control Panel and then go to Network and Sharing Center
Step 2 – Click on change adapter settings
Step 2 – Select all the active connections (use CTRL + Click to select multiple connections)
Step 3 – Right-click on one of the selected connections and then choose Bridge Connections
Step 4 – A network bridge will be created and thus your selected Internet connections will be combined.
Load Balancing and Failover:
- Load Balancing: Load balancing spreads network traffic among many connections to optimize bandwidth use. By using both connections at the same time, it can considerably increase overall network speed.
- Failover: When one connection fails, the other instantly takes over, ensuring uninterrupted internet access. This is critical for tasks that necessitate a consistent connection, such as online gaming or video conferencing.
- Load Balancing in Routers: Some advanced routers have built-in load balancing and failover features. If you want to distribute the load among several devices in your network, this is a fantastic solution.
Considerations for Load Balancing:
- Provider Compatibility: Load balancing may not be compatible with all internet service providers. Some ISPs may send traffic across multiple pathways, producing load balancing concerns.
- VPN Compatibility: If you use a VPN, be sure the load balancing software or hardware supports VPN connections, as VPNs might occasionally interfere with load balancing.
- Data Cap and Usage: Using two connections at the same time can consume more data, so be aware of data caps if your connections have them.
Networking Hardware:
- Dual WAN Routers: Consider adopting a dual WAN router, which is specifically intended for load balancing and failover. These routers provide features for handling numerous connections.
- Ethernet Bonding: Ethernet bonding allows enterprises or sophisticated users to combine numerous network connections into a single virtual interface. This necessitates the use of specialist hardware and settings.
Ethernet and Wi-Fi Combination:
- Use Cases: Combining an Ethernet and Wi-Fi connection can be useful, especially if your Ethernet connection is more stable but slower, and your Wi-Fi connection is faster but less reliable.
- Separate ISPs: You can use two different internet service providers to maximize redundancy and load balancing.
Testing and Monitoring:
- Network Speed Tests: Regularly test your network speed using online tools to ensure that both connections are performing as expected. This will help you identify any performance issues early on.
- Network Monitoring Tools: Use network monitoring software to track the performance of each connection, measure latency, and identify any bottlenecks.
Conclusion
You can greatly improve your internet experience by employing two network connections on a single PC, resulting in more dependable connections, quicker downloads, and more fluid online activities. In order to optimize the advantages of merging two connections, keep in mind to prioritize the network adapters and, if necessary, take into account employing load balancing software. However, bear in mind that depending on your internet service provider and the state of the network, the efficacy of combining connections may vary. To get the greatest results, always keep an eye on your network performance and make the necessary setup adjustments. Enjoy your enhanced internet usage!