[Samba] Samba and Multiple NICs

Hi,

I'm a happy Samba user. I've been working sucessfully in Linux for the past 6
months. I've built a Linux Server with very fast storage and I'm connecting
it to many Windows XP "video editing workstations" via Gigabit Ethernet (all
NICs using Jumbo Frames, by the way).

Now I want to see if I can increase my data flow in and out of the Server so
that more workstations to connect to it simultaneously. I'm pretty much maxing
out on the amount of data that can flow through a single Gigabit Ethernet
connection (from the Server to a single Gigabit Switch). So I'm wondering what's
involved in adding a second NIC to my Server and dividing my workstations into
two groups.

Is this a difficult thing to configure? Would somebody be willing to tell me
what are the crucial settings that need to be made (in smb.conf, for example,
or in /etc/*.* stuff). Do I have to create subnets?

I'm currently working on an internal network where all the workstations have
192.168.1.XXX static addresses. These workstations occasionally connect to the
Internet through a Cable/DSL router that's also on the network and that
serves as the gateway.

Is it possible to give my server two fixed IP addresses (one corresponding to
each NIC) and then connect each NIC to its own switch, which would then be
connected to half of the workstations? I tried this today and had no luck.

And how can I make it possible for each workstations to have access to the
Internet. Presumably, only one switch can be connected to the cable/dsl router
-- or else data traffic could go through the cable/dsl router to get from a
workstation to the Server. But I suppose that's the least of my worries.

I'm not looking for somebody else to do my homework. I've spent about 6 hours
today googling around trying to figure out what's required and I'm coming up
more confused with each article or discussion thread I read.

I would sure appreciate it if somebody out there was willing to lend a hand.
I'm sure this is basic stuff to an IT guy, but I'm just working on this
networking stuff at a "hobby level" -- doing pretty well, but now a bit stumped.

By the way, does anybody know if this scenario is covered in the new Samba
cookbook? I'd be happy to purchase it tomorrow if I thought it would give me the
recipe to do what I'm trying to accomplish.

Regards,
Andy Liebman
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