Odd GB problem

I have an odd problem with gigabit networking from my server.

I have a new Dell Poweredge 840 which has a Broadcom NetXtreme NIC and a client with a Realtek 8110SC NIC. Both are connected on a Netgear GS108 gigabit switch to isolate a couple of servers and a setup client while I transfer data from the old server. The GS108 also connects to the existing switch at 100Mbit. All GB NIC's report GB connections correctly

My problem seems to be packet corruption / loss. I can use my laptop at 100Mbit and a benchmark will show close to ~10Mbyte/sec transfer speeds. Using the client (with the Realtek GB NIC) I get about 2MByte/sec speeds. This also happens if I force 100MBit Full Duplex. When I make an image of the drive using DriveimageXML, it always fails, saying the networks unavailable.

Any Ideas?
Thanks
Craig

Cable quality? GB needs 5e or 6.

Bad patch leads or patch panels. Dodgy socket in the switch. Etc. Just eliminate things one by one.

Thanks for the quick reply,

Cables are runs of 0.5m on Cat 5e.

Geoff,

Tried different ports and cables. Still happening. :(

BTW, it works with the client at gb, my laptop at 100mbit. Same cables and ports.

Ah hang on, did you update the Broadcom drivers after you install w2k3 sp2 or disabled RSS? You might be being bitten by the Receive Side Scaling issue I noted previously.

http://www.edugeek.net/index.php?nam...ewtopic&t=7598

No, I didn't update the drivers. The Dell site is spectacularly unhelpful with the driver update with only the 570x available it seems. Mine is the 5721

I have just disabled RSS and the problem still occurs.

It also seems I have newer drivers than the Broadcom site.
Mine are ver 10.26.0.0 date 2/20/07
Broadcom are ver 10.24d date 2/1/07

Thanks
Craig

I had issues with a BCM5708c NetXtreme II on a Dell 1950 and just found out how to fix it.

http://www.edugeek.net/index.php?nam...wtopic&p=93953

this may work for you.

In addition to all of the above suggestions you may also need to enable Jumbo frame support in your drivers advance settings tab and/or lock the switches and network cards link speeds, as some manufacturers STILL can't get auto negotiation to work correctly.

@pete: Just seen this, and posted. Thanks...

I don't have an option for Jumbo frame support on my drivers so I assume its auto negotiated.

Craig