Why Do Some PCs Have Two Ethernet Ports?
Your PC probably doesn’t need both ports, but workstations and servers can put them to work.
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The two Ethernet ports on some PCs aren't a matter of aesthetics or a simple selling point. Their primary purpose is to provide the computer with more networking options, like backup connections or separate networks. If it's configured for failover and you lose a network connection on one, you still have access through the other. In most cases, it's a feature that's primarily relevant for workstations, servers or virtualization setups. Your home internet likely doesn't go out often enough to justify paying for a second connection you only need when the first is unavailable.
Dual ports can also support link aggregation (sometimes called NIC teaming or bonding). Put simply, link aggregation allows the PC (and a managed switch, in some setups) to combine two Ethernet links into a single connection. This has...
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