Re: [Bugme-new] [Bug 7770] New: Network connection randomly drops

On Thu, 4 Jan 2007 08:49:49 -0800
bugme-daemon@bugzilla.kernel.org wrote:

http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=7770

           Summary: Network connection randomly drops
    Kernel Version: 2.6.19 onward
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
             Owner: acme@conectiva.com.br
         Submitter: prusnik@gmail.com


Most recent kernel where this bug did *NOT* occur: 2.6.19-rc4
Distribution: ubuntu 6.10, 64 bit
Hardware Environment: ASUS M2N-E (MCP55), AMD X2 4200+
Software Environment: normal linux distro with a custom kernel
Problem Description:
It started when I compiled the stable 2.6.19 kernel (first after rc4). The
network connection to the router just dropped and I can find no reason why it is
so. I have to revive the connection via /etc/init.d/networking restart command
and the connection is there again. At first I was doing remote connection
(tsclient in ubuntu) on another ubuntu dapper machine. The connection would
randomly terminate. I assumed it was the program, but then I did a further test.
I used mc (midnight commander) to copy some large files (a couple ubuntu iso-s)
 to this machine (which acts as a file server) via NFS (and via router) and
back. The connection would drop! The event is more frequent if I transfer the
files from that computer than vice versa.
I then rerun linux with 2.6.19-rc4 kernel and transfers were stable without a
single connection drop. I then assumed it should be the newer forcedeth driver
to blame but apparently it isn't. I put the 0.57 driver into the 2.6.20-rc3 and
the problem persists. I even tried this patch from the bug #7684 but this didn't
help either.

Steps to reproduce:
Hopefully with this hardware I mentioned, plain ubuntu 6.10 64 bit installation
with a kernel higher than 2.6.19-rc4. Config and other status files are in the
attachment.