[realtek] Why RTL8139 driver very buggy ( any versions )

Evgeny Plehov boss@universal.com.ua
Fri, 05 Jan 2001 12:19:18 +0200


I have try different drivers for rtl8139 ( Derived from Donald Becker
driver ): shiped with kernel 2.2.x ( 1.07 - have status experimental )
and latest from Donald Becker ( 1.11, 1.12 ). I have different and
strange bugs. First time i have office network with one 10Mbps-hub and
about 10 workstations and my server (RH6,1 with latest updates) with
2xRTL8139 NICs ( 1 for Internet, and 1 for LAN ). Server some times
crashed ( i don't know why ? maybe X-Server ? ). But then i have 2 hubs -
ok. Then i have 3 hubs. My server crash every day - ( LAN interface stop
response, unknown reboots, hangs:) if i disconnect third hub - more
stable. And if my system loaded ( copy from one IDE device to other IDE
device ) - LAN interface stop response or server spontan reboot :)  This
end of story !!!!!!!!!

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AND I REPLACE LOW COST but VERY BUGGY RTL8139 with Intel EEPRO100 - and
all ok !!!!!!!!!!! i am happy !!!!!!!!!!! uptime = many-many days !!!!!!
no crashes !!!!!!!! no bugs !!!!!!!!!
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But on Win95 WS RTL8139 work fine :)