FTP Download issues -- resolved

[Bill Sconce]

On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 10:40:28 -0400
Fred <puissante at lrc.puissante.com> wrote:

> FYI - Update on the download problem:
> 
> As you know, I've been pulling my hair out on this issue for a while. It
> turned out to be a hardware fault -- the ethernet card (Linksys
> EtherFast 10/100 LAN card) was flaky, partially functional, but not
> completely. It appeared to work most of the time, but flake out in wierd
> ways, such as not letting FTP downloads complete, and apparently had
> been behind the issues I was having with NFS as well, etc.


At last a light dawns.

Last fall I spend three DAYS trying to get a new machine up on the net, with
all kinds of obscure, irreproducible symptoms.  Finally I discovered articles
on the kernel list about a particular chipset whose implementation was simply
broken - it would work until a particular circumstance arose, then chaos.  I
no longer have the wrapping for the card, but the silkscreening says "LinkSys
EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card".  (I've saved the damned thing, 'cause it brings
back such special memories.)  The guilty chip is a PNC LC82C168.  I wonder if
yours was the same?


 
> So, I went out and purchased the CompUSA-branded 10/100 Ethernet
> adapter. Why? Because it claimed support for Linux *right on the box*.
> Cost the the whole of $14.99.

Plus your time, heh.

Buy you a beer at the next meeting...  :)

-Bill