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Just a little heads up to the rest of you guys with 3C90X cards:
For the last couple of days I've been having problems with my IP_Masq box.
When I create a "relatively large" amount of network traffic (55 kb/sec
download) about 3 minutes later all masquerading ceases, downloads abort,
IRC pukes, and all network traffic ceases for about 10 seconds, after which
everything resumes as normal. This happens on all client machines, this
isn't an isolated issue. Both NICs are running in 10Mbit Half-Duplex mode
across a decent Allied Telesyn 4-Port Hub. This problem has plagued me
since I "upgrade" (Actually did a complete reinstalling, 'upgrade' isn't
literal here) to the new 2.2.* kernel. It is not based on my ipmasq timeout
values, I've tried everything from 3600 60 60 to 9999 9999 9999 and I still
get the same problem, regardless of the timeout value. I like to think I
know what I'm doing since I started with ipmasq about 3 years ago. I don't
feel the issue here is a TSTU (Technology superior to user) problem, but
instead lies in the drivers for the 3Com cards. After about 5 installs
later (trying to 'fix' the problem) I started surfing the net for and have
basically found that the 3c90X series' drivers are lets say, below par. The
solution to my problem was to throw some relatively inexpensive RealTek
8319's in there (10/100 Autosensing). Looking at ifconfig my collisions are
lower, the network operates faster, and my download don't puke, I just now
finished up Unreal Tournament (~55Mb) as we speak. The 3c905's don't have
any trouble on my Windows boxes, so the problem isn't the NICs themselves.
For the rest of you out there with the same problems I'm having, apparently
knowing that 3Com is the "best" doesn't do much for you in the 2.2.* kernels
and there is a stream of problems running the 3c905's at 100Mbit.
I hope to have saved some of you the same trouble I had.
PS: I'm using Mandrake Linux 6.1, Newest IPchains + 3c59x Module on a
P2-300 w/64Mb + 40Mb Swap
Nathan Fowler
System Administrator, BellSouth
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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