Can only the 100Mbs part of a 10/100Mbs router fail?

[Larry Cook]

Ken,

> One thing to contemplate -- though if it had been working 
> before, it's not terribly likely to be the problem -- is the fact that 
> autonegotiation is an imperfect science.

This router has been working for a year and half with computer #1 (10Mbs) and 
#2 (100Mbs) connected to it.  The 100Mbs switch with computers behind it was 
added over a year ago and has been working fine.  I've made no changes to any 
of this.

I first noticed a problem on my RH8 system behind the 100Mbs switch losing the 
VPN connection to work.  After about the fifth time of having to reestablish 
the connection I started checking the network.  A ping of the router showed a 
30-60% packet loss!  Thinking my problem was the 100Mbs switch to the router, 
I swapped it with the 10Mbs hub.  Everything was working fine, so of course I 
assumed it was the 100Mbs switch.  But yesterday my wife couldn't get on the 
internet with computer #2 connected directly to the router.  So now I'm at my 
current theory that the 100Mbs part of the router is the problem.

Thanks,
Larry