Networking :: how can I test why my net connection dies

Finally got linux working on this old lappy but it took loading MDK 9.2 to do it.

I want dsl to work on it goddamnit! I didn't have to do anything special to it either... so wtf does MDK do that DSL does not? ugh any way to find out???

a very pissed & frustrated
avey

[Edit] spoke too soon, it still dies. sigh

will try hats idea with a script thing.

Sri for the confusion.. another user with a similar issue...

I have a befsr41 linksys router here as well..

You wrote about your configuration looking like this..

Quote

DSL Modem -> switch -> router ->laptop

Mine is more like this for multi-user connectivity..

DSLModem -> Router -> Switch -> many other computers...

The DSLmodem will only issue ONE ip-address..

The router takes it, and then uses DHCP to create
"leases" of non-internet-used addresses to assign
each computer ( or router port) that request one an individual IP.

If you've got a router connected to the switch
( a switch being an "intelligent' hub , which remembers routes )
AND.. another computer also connected to the switch,
AHEAD OF THE ROUTER,
it may steal the only available IP from your modem,
once your lease expires.. ( normal default 10 minutes )

You stated here that..

Quote

I have to use both switch & router b/c of where another comp is (upstairs) & it plugs into the router thru the uplink port (the longest cable I had is a Xover one ffs).

Are you sure ? Typically the switch has an uplink port, not the router...
The router has a port for your dslmodem, and 4 ports for your uses..
The four ports are provided DHCP, and nat/firewalling protection,
from the "internet" side of things..

The "internet" port on your router is supposed to get the ONE ip
your modem issues.. then connect the switch to one of the ports
if neccessary to increase the number of available ports
beyond the four the router provides.

There are ways to configure the router to be a non-dhcp gateway only,
and not a firewall/router as the norm..
But I didn't think the router was capable of issuing DHCP
leases thru the DSLmodem port.. That is typically the "unprotected" side...

Try the static IP, and see what it does..
But I think, from your setup, that the crossover cable needs to go,
and both (or more) computers should be connected to the
protected ports.. and your modem connected to the "internet" port,
of the router.. the switch can be used as an extension, or for extra ports..

Also, find out what ip addresses each of your computers is using.

Let us know..

73
ke4nt

Quote (ke4nt1 @ June 02 2005,22:59)

<snip>
The DSLmodem will only issue ONE ip-address..

The router takes it, and then uses DHCP to create
"leases" of non-internet-used addresses to assign
each computer ( or router port) that request one an individual IP.

If you've got a router connected to the switch
( a switch being an "intelligent' hub , which remembers routes )
AND.. another computer also connected to the switch,
AHEAD OF THE ROUTER,
it may steal the only available IP from your modem,
once your lease expires.. ( normal default 10 minutes )

You stated here that..

Quote

I have to use both switch & router b/c of where another comp is (upstairs) & it plugs into the router thru the uplink port (the longest cable I had is a Xover one ffs).

Try the static IP, and see what it does..
But I think, from your setup, that the crossover cable needs to go,
and both (or more) computers should be connected to the
protected ports.. and your modem connected to the "internet" port,
of the router.. the switch can be used as an extension, or for extra ports..

Also, find out what ip addresses each of your computers is using.

Let us know..

73
ke4nt

Took your advice on all this but it was still a no go. Also I don't have a comp plugged into the switch, just teh router is plugged into it. (I can ask my IT friend why/how the setup works if anyones interested too). Static IP did nothing; as well my isp issues us 2 IPs by default so even if one was being stolen it wouldn't make a difference.

I ended up breaking down & purchasing a Netgear FA511 ethernet cardbus card. It works perfectly as you can see cuz I'm tyrping this from the lappy. In the end I think either the other card is using flaky drivers that, from what I've seen on the net, are considered experimental and unstable at best or that its just fubar.

Regardless if anyone else is using the same type of xircom I had, I strongly encourage you to get a new cardbus card from a decent electronics store. Thanks for everyones help too. I was ready to throw this laptop out a window if this kept up.

aveline

Just a quick sidenote, Xircom 10/100 pcmcia cards work fine (I use one on my old toshiba). Those combo enet/modem cards were a disaster in any os, due to the number of irq's for the modem and ethernet and pcmcia adapter.

original here.