i have a server with 5 nic's. my router gateway is 10.1.1.1. when i put this on the first nic everything is O.K. whe i put it on any or all of the other nic i get error message about having "muliple gateways", do you want to save this configuration. i usually ignore this message and save my settings. is this correct or should i do something else.

Hi, You should not do anything unless you are having problems. Yes, it is not recommended to use multiple gateways as it may cause some problems with your routing table, but if everything is ok and working, just leave it.

If it is working for you, leaving it in this condition is an option. However, the configuration may not be optimal or really even correct. It depends on other information such as what are the network IDs and what subnet mask are you using. For instance, if you have another NIC with an IP address of 10.1.2.1/24 (255.255.255.0) and you configure it with a gateway of 10.1.1.1, that gateway is not correct for that subnet.Setting up a computer with multiple gateways is acceptable, but not recommended unless you understand what multiple gateways actually buy you. In addition, to properly configure this server with mulitple NICs, it would depend on if there are routers on those segments connected on the other NICs you are describing which contain remote networks on the far side of the router. If this is the case, you may want to install Routing and Remote Access Services and have your server exchange routing information with the other routers on your network.If this server is configured in a "hub-and-spoke" configuration where the NICs are just plugging into the various subnets and this server is the "hub" then you really only need one default gateway. The default gateway would be configured on the NIC that can get to a remote network, such as the Internet, or some other "exit" to the rest of your LAN, so that any packet that the server doesnt have a destination route for (in its routing table ["route print" at the command line], it would just send it to the gateway.If you have an interest in learning more about routing and TCP/IP, you should pick up a few good books. Here is a good starter on this subject.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0672329964?ie=UTF8&tag=jomesblanitkn-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0672329964 Visit my blog: anITKB.com, an IT Knowledge Base.

Thanks for your advice