Odd GB problem

[craiglay]

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

[beast_gts]

Cable quality? GB needs 5e or 6.

[Geoff]

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

[craiglay]

Thanks for the quick reply,

 

Cables are runs of 0.5m on Cat 5e.

[craiglay]

Geoff,

 

Tried different ports and cables. Still happening.

 

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

[Geoff]

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?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=7598

[craiglay]

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

[pete]

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?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=93953

 

this may work for you.

[m25man]

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.

[craiglay]

@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