How should two integrated NICs be configured for fault protection in a web server replacement?

When configuring two integrated NICs for fault protection, placing them into a team with one MAC address is the ideal approach. This method is commonly referred to as NIC teaming or bonding. In this configuration, the teamed NICs operate as a single logical interface, which has several benefits for fault tolerance.

By utilizing a single MAC address for the NIC team, traffic is seamlessly managed, allowing for automatic failover. If one NIC within the team encounters an issue or fails, the other NIC can take over without any disruption to the network communication. This ensures continuous availability of the web server, which is crucial for maintaining uptime and service reliability.

This configuration is particularly beneficial in avoiding issues that would arise from having separate MAC addresses, which could complicate the flow of network packets and result in dropped connections during failover scenarios. Thus, using a teamed configuration with a single MAC address provides a streamlined and efficient means to achieve fault protection on a web server.