From: Arjen Runsink Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 14:22:26 +0100 Message-Id: <00111614222601.01839@flaptop> Subject: Half or Full Duplex n(e/o)tworking WAS:Odd network problem. This is a curious thing, why is half-duplex faster on a cross-over cable than full-duplex (assuming both NIC's can handle it). There is no other active network equipment that could influence this. I had better results to go to half-duplex with a linux machine connected to a switch! Those things auto adapt and convert the lot so should give no problem. I experimented with smaller packets, this also increased speed a lot but brought the network for other users to it's knees by the massive collisions this caused (but I am not sorry, I am the BOFH here and them are just (l)users :) ) I think there is some stuff in the 2.2.x kernels (have not used 2.4 yet) that has trouble with transmitting part. I have some strange errors here also: Nov 16 12:53:19 flaptop kernel: eth0: transmit timed out, tx_status ff status ffff. Nov 16 12:53:19 flaptop kernel: diagnostics: net ffff media ffff dma ffffffff. Nov 16 12:53:19 flaptop kernel: eth0: Transmitter encountered 16 collisions -- network cable problem? Nov 16 12:53:19 flaptop kernel: eth0: Interrupt posted but not delivered -- IRQ blocked by another device? I used other nic's, cables, but still the same, and it is attached to a switch. I had no problem with kernel 2.2.17 (not SuSE) and the pcmcia package that came with SuSE 6.2 <p>BB, Arjen P.S. Mikke, you can speed up your connection even more by using the ip interfaces in point-2-point mode. Check http://www.linux.com in the tune ups section and man ifconfig. On Thursday 16 November 2000 12:45, Mikke Mattsson wrote:

I setup both cards to run in full-duplex, (With a short crossed cable between them) but after switching to half-duplex the transfer speed geared up and pushed the bits through the wire in an awesome speed.

Thanks!

/mikke

...

I am currently working on the same problem and have solved this in one place by making sure the card is running in half-duplex. This is with a Tlan card on a 10Mbit network.

So if you have a 10Mbit network make sure that the interface is in half duplex. See the SuSE manual for the extra parameters to set when configuring this card from yast. This works when it is loaded as a module. Further info on configuring this card (also when compiles directly into the kernel) is in /usr/src/linux/Documentation/networking/3c90x.txt

This also has some explanation what you can configure in 100Mbit networks and should help you out.

For me it made things 20 times faster!

BB, Arjen

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