VERY SLOW Intel e1000 1GB NIC

I bought an Intel 1GB network card to replace my 100MB Netgear
card. My network speed has DRAMATICALLY decreased. My network
monitor shows bursts of ~100KB traffic and then pauses. This
pattern repeats constantly, and between machines in the house,
not over my DSL. I searched for info on this issue and found
several people reported similar experiences over the years. Many
also experienced high CPU utilization. But, my CPU is near 2%
used.

My house is 1GB over CAT6 cables. All of the networking hardware
outside my computer cases is Netgear stuff, switches & routers.
The Intel card uses the e1000 kernel module in a 2.6.17.14
kernel. The specific card I'm using is an "Intel PWLA8391GT
Desktop Adapter PRO/1000 GT 10/100/1000Mbps PCI"

What might I do to tune up this card for full GB performance?
Should I just return it and get another card? I bought Intel
thinking that would work, and because it was highly rated on
the shopping site I visited.

Thanks...

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PLEASE post a SUMMARY of the answer(s) to your question(s)!
Unless otherwise noted, the statements herein reflect my personal
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On Fri, 2011-09-23, Kevin the Drummer wrote:
> I bought an Intel 1GB network card to replace my 100MB Netgear
> card. My network speed has DRAMATICALLY decreased. My network
> monitor shows bursts of ~100KB traffic and then pauses.

When you try to do *what*, exactly? And what does "pause" mean?

> This
> pattern repeats constantly, and between machines in the house,
> not over my DSL. I searched for info on this issue and found
> several people reported similar experiences over the years. Many
> also experienced high CPU utilization. But, my CPU is near 2%
> used.
....
> What might I do to tune up this card for full GB performance?
> Should I just return it and get another card?

It's not clear what your symptoms are. Try to measure using known
traffic. I think a pingflood between your machine and a nearby one
would be a good first test. You can vary packet sizes etc:

# ping -f -i0 -s1000 somewhere

Also, what does ethtool say? Does it report that you're really running
1Gbit full duplex?

/Jorgen

--
// Jorgen Grahn <grahn@ Oo o. . .
\X/ snipabacken.se> O o .

Jorgen Grahn <grahn+(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On Fri, 2011-09-23, Kevin the Drummer wrote:
> > I bought an Intel 1GB network card to replace my 100MB Netgear
> > card. My network speed has DRAMATICALLY decreased. My network
> > monitor shows bursts of ~100KB traffic and then pauses.
>
> When you try to do *what*, exactly? And what does "pause" mean?

The network meter for eth4 in gkrellm alternates between traffic
around 90k and 0, then 80k, then 0, then 73k, then 0, then 78k,
etc... The state changes every second on the meter. I think
that timing is special to the measurement method, and not the
traffic. But? When I had my 100Mb/s card in the machine, then
even my 1.5Mb/s DSL traffic would reach 158K, sometimes even
above 160K. I can't see why a 1GB card should fare slower than a
DSL line.

> It's not clear what your symptoms are. Try to measure using known
> traffic. I think a pingflood between your machine and a nearby one
> would be a good first test. You can vary packet sizes etc:
>
> # ping -f -i0 -s1000 somewhere

I measured the traffic while transfering one Linux DVD ISO of
3.7G from machine A in my house to machine B in my house, while
at the same time transfering a vacation video ISO of 1.8G from
machine B in my house to machine A in my house. The measurements
happened to be done on machine A, which is also the machine
that's having trouble. All the gear between the two machines is
1Gb/s or better rated/spec'd.

> Also, what does ethtool say? Does it report that you're really running
> 1Gbit full duplex?

Settings for eth4:
Supported ports: [ TP ]
Supported link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
Supports auto-negotiation: Yes
Advertised link modes: 10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
Speed: 1000Mb/s
Duplex: Full
Port: Twisted Pair
PHYAD: 0
Transceiver: internal
Auto-negotiation: on
Supports Wake-on: umbg
Wake-on: g
Current message level: 0x00000007 (7)
Link detected: yes

I hope the added data is useful.

For what it's worth, I grabbed new kernel source for the e1000
module from Intel last night. I built and installed that, but
I haven't rebooted yet, as I haven't had time to do that in a
controlled manner, and leave enough time to repair things should
anything go wrong.

Thanks....

--
PLEASE post a SUMMARY of the answer(s) to your question(s)!
Unless otherwise noted, the statements herein reflect my personal
opinions and not those of any organization with which I may be affiliated.

On Fri, 2011-09-23, Kevin the Drummer wrote:
> Jorgen Grahn <grahn+(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 2011-09-23, Kevin the Drummer wrote:
>> > I bought an Intel 1GB network card to replace my 100MB Netgear
>> > card. My network speed has DRAMATICALLY decreased. My network
>> > monitor shows bursts of ~100KB traffic and then pauses.
>>
>> When you try to do *what*, exactly? And what does "pause" mean?
>
> The network meter for eth4 in gkrellm alternates between traffic
> around 90k and 0, then 80k, then 0, then 73k, then 0, then 78k,
> etc... The state changes every second on the meter. I think
> that timing is special to the measurement method, and not the
> traffic. But? When I had my 100Mb/s card in the machine, then
> even my 1.5Mb/s DSL traffic would reach 158K, sometimes even
> above 160K. I can't see why a 1GB card should fare slower than a
> DSL line.
>
>> It's not clear what your symptoms are. Try to measure using known
>> traffic. I think a pingflood between your machine and a nearby one
>> would be a good first test. You can vary packet sizes etc:
>>
>> # ping -f -i0 -s1000 somewhere
>
> I measured the traffic while transfering one Linux DVD ISO of
> 3.7G from machine A in my house to machine B in my house, while
> at the same time transfering a vacation video ISO of 1.8G from
> machine B in my house to machine A in my house. The measurements
> happened to be done on machine A, which is also the machine
> that's having trouble.

Ah, yes, that's a decent first test. But I still recommend something
like the ping test to
- eliminate disk read/write speeds from the equation
- get a better momentary view of the losses (gkrellm seems to indicate
some kind of problem which varies with time, but can't tell you the
details
- try out lower rates, smaller packets etc to see under which
situations the problem exists

> All the gear between the two machines is
> 1Gb/s or better rated/spec'd.
>
>> Also, what does ethtool say? Does it report that you're really running
>> 1Gbit full duplex?
>
> Settings for eth4:
....
> Speed: 1000Mb/s
> Duplex: Full
....
> Link detected: yes
>
> I hope the added data is useful.

I should add here that I'm not good at Ethernet debugging; I'm just
suggesting ways to find out more. Hopefully others here can draw
conclusions from the data.

BR,
Jorgen

--
// Jorgen Grahn <grahn@ Oo o. . .
\X/ snipabacken.se> O o .

On Sep 22, 10:50*pm, Kevin the Drummer <nob...@cosgroves.us> wrote:

> I bought an Intel 1GB network card to replace my 100MB Netgear
> card. *My network speed has DRAMATICALLY decreased. *My network
> monitor shows bursts of ~100KB traffic and then pauses. *This
> pattern repeats constantly, and between machines in the house,
> not over my DSL. *I searched for info on this issue and found
> several people reported similar experiences over the years. *Many
> also experienced high CPU utilization. *But, my CPU is near 2%
> used.

In my experience, this problem is almost always due to bad cabling.
The most common problems are:

1) Cable that is too long, more than 328 feet.

2) Use of cable or connectors that are not rated for Gigabit ethernet.

3) Improper use of adapters, wiring panels, or splices.

4) Improper assignment of wires to pairs. (You'd be surprised how many
people think that you can just connect corresponding pins of the
connector to wires and have it work correctly.)

5) Pins not used in fast ethernet left unconnected or marginally
connected.

6) Too much wire untwisted at connectors or junctions.

DS

Jorgen Grahn <grahn+(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >> It's not clear what your symptoms are. Try to measure using known
> >> traffic. I think a pingflood between your machine and a nearby one
> >> would be a good first test. You can vary packet sizes etc:
> >>
> >> # ping -f -i0 -s1000 somewhere
> >
> > I measured the traffic while transfering one Linux DVD ISO of
> > 3.7G from machine A in my house to machine B in my house, while
> > at the same time transfering a vacation video ISO of 1.8G from
> > machine B in my house to machine A in my house. The measurements
> > happened to be done on machine A, which is also the machine
> > that's having trouble.
>
> Ah, yes, that's a decent first test.

Just enough to know that there is a problem.

> But I still recommend something
> like the ping test to
> - eliminate disk read/write speeds from the equation
> - get a better momentary view of the losses (gkrellm seems to indicate
> some kind of problem which varies with time, but can't tell you the
> details
> - try out lower rates, smaller packets etc to see under which
> situations the problem exists

Good ideas.

> >> Also, what does ethtool say? Does it report that you're really running
> >> 1Gbit full duplex?
> >
> > Settings for eth4:
> ...
> > Speed: 1000Mb/s
> > Duplex: Full
> ...
> > Link detected: yes
> >
> > I hope the added data is useful.
>
> I should add here that I'm not good at Ethernet debugging; I'm just
> suggesting ways to find out more. Hopefully others here can draw
> conclusions from the data.

OK. Thanks for giving me things to try!

--
PLEASE post a SUMMARY of the answer(s) to your question(s)!
Unless otherwise noted, the statements herein reflect my personal
opinions and not those of any organization with which I may be affiliated.

David Schwartz <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> On Sep 22, 10:50*pm, Kevin the Drummer <nob...@cosgroves.us> wrote:
>
> > I bought an Intel 1GB network card to replace my 100MB Netgear
> > card. *My network speed has DRAMATICALLY decreased. *My network
> > monitor shows bursts of ~100KB traffic and then pauses. *This
> > pattern repeats constantly, and between machines in the house,
> > not over my DSL. *I searched for info on this issue and found
> > several people reported similar experiences over the years. *Many
> > also experienced high CPU utilization. *But, my CPU is near 2%
> > used.
>
> In my experience, this problem is almost always due to bad cabling.
> The most common problems are:
>
> 1) Cable that is too long, more than 328 feet.

I'm using about 3 meters.

> 2) Use of cable or connectors that are not rated for Gigabit ethernet.

That's possible.

> 3) Improper use of adapters, wiring panels, or splices.

If that's the case, then it's that way from the factory.

> 4) Improper assignment of wires to pairs. (You'd be surprised how many
> people think that you can just connect corresponding pins of the
> connector to wires and have it work correctly.)

Again. Factory stuff.

> 5) Pins not used in fast ethernet left unconnected or marginally
> connected.

You mean in the Netgear router? Or, in the Intel card? Or, in the
factory built cable?

> 6) Too much wire untwisted at connectors or junctions.

I'm hoping that falling back on factory built cable is OK. I have more
cable, and I can swap some in/out to see if I have a bad piece or two.

Thanks...

--
PLEASE post a SUMMARY of the answer(s) to your question(s)!
Unless otherwise noted, the statements herein reflect my personal
opinions and not those of any organization with which I may be affiliated.

On Sat, 24 Sep 2011 19:30:42 -0500, Kevin the Drummer rearranged some
electrons to say:

>
>> > Settings for eth4:
>> ...
>> > Speed: 1000Mb/s Duplex: Full

Try setting to half duplex and see what the result is.

On 09/25/2011 01:48 PM, david wrote:
> On Sat, 24 Sep 2011 19:30:42 -0500, Kevin the Drummer rearranged some
> electrons to say:
>
>>
>>>> Settings for eth4:
>>> ...
>>>> Speed: 1000Mb/s Duplex: Full
>
> Try setting to half duplex and see what the result is.

It's nearly impossible to achieve Gigabit Ethernet with switch.

On Tue, 2011-09-27, ein wrote:
> On 09/25/2011 01:48 PM, david wrote:
>> On Sat, 24 Sep 2011 19:30:42 -0500, Kevin the Drummer rearranged some
>> electrons to say:
>>
>>>
>>>>> Settings for eth4:
>>>> ...
>>>>> Speed: 1000Mb/s Duplex: Full
>>
>> Try setting to half duplex and see what the result is.
>
> It's nearly impossible to achieve Gigabit Ethernet with switch.

Isn't it impossible in practice no matter what's between the NICs?

Anyway, I don't think the OP stated that as his goal.

/Jorgen

--
// Jorgen Grahn <grahn@ Oo o. . .
\X/ snipabacken.se> O o .