2.4.24: ethernet link going down?

Hi Group,

I have a Linux system (older Compaq PL400 server with 2 ethernet cards
(see lspci output below)

Every now and then (at indeterminate intervals) one or the other
ethernet card seems to lose its link. 'tcpdump -i ethX' then only shows
the server making arp calls but not getting any replies.

At first I thought it could be the devices connected to
(eth0 -> a hub, eth1 -> Aztech dsl900e ADSL router)
but it happens on both interfaces which speaks against that theory.

Nothing is reported in the logs.

Running mii-tool against the 3Com card shows 'ling down' when this
happens. rebooting the ADSL router does not help, neither does
ifconfig eth1 (neither just down/up, nor totally reconfiguring)

A reboot of the system fixes this, but that is obviously no solution.

This problem has happened with both kernel 2.4.18 (eepro100 driver for
the Intel card) and 2.4.24 (e100 driver).

a) Has anyone seen this behaviour before?
b) is there a tool to show the link-status for an eepro100 card (like the
mii-tool?)


# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX AGP bridge (rev 03)
00:0d.0 PCI bridge: Digital Equipment Corporation DECchip 21152 (rev 03)
00:0e.0 Ethernet controller: 3Com Corporation 3c905C-TX/TX-M [Tornado] (rev 78)
00:10.0 ATM network controller: Integrated Device Tech IDT77211 ATM Adapter (rev 03)
00:14.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02)
00:14.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)
00:14.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB (rev 01)
00:14.3 Bridge: Intel Corp. 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 02)
02:04.0 SCSI storage controller: LSI Logic / Symbios Logic (formerly NCR) 53c895 (rev 02)
02:05.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corp. 82557/8/9 [Ethernet Pro 100] (rev 05)
02:06.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc 3D Rage IIC 215IIC [Mach64 GT IIC] (rev 7a)
02:07.0 System peripheral: Compaq Computer Corporation Advanced System Management Controller



thanks and regards