Networking with Win98 SE

[bernardino]

I have 2 computers at home. Both with Realtek's cards (8139). The net is working but i am finding it very slow.
Both are connected via a CAT5 crossover cable. I see both computers in the network and their sharings (printer and files); so it seems that everything is working fine, EXCEPT for the very slow transfer rate (as i perceive when i copy a file).

Here is my configuration:

Micro 01
-------------
ASUS P5A with audio onboard
AMD K6-2 450
128 MB
RTL8139 (network card) is:
Early Tx Threshold = 38
Line Speed/Duplex Mode = Auto Mode
Network Address = Absent
WakeUp Frame = Enable

Micro 02
-------------
ASUS TX97
Pentium 233
64 MB
Same configuration here for the same adapter.

Can you help me ?
What could i be doing wrong ?
Could it have something to do with this IRQ Steering, althought i don't have IRQ conflicts ?

TIA

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--
Fabio Pereira Bernardino
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

[DDavidson]

Hi bernardino

SOME Nic's have great difficulty in speaking to each other via a crossover cable. Normally there is a hub that tells em "hey I work at 10Mbps or 100Mbps can you?" the card then says "ok I can work at 100Mbps so I will comply"

Without buying a small hub (which I tell every one to do anyway!) Try configuring the cards to use only ONE speed, try getting them off auto (also steer clear of full duplex! without a hub) in other words. You may have to do this thru a dos utility that came with the cards drivers. Or thru a windows utilty if there is one. Once the card's are both set at the same speed see if this speeds things up.

If not my advice is, buy a small 4 or 5 port hub.

Hope this helps and good luck.




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Don Davidson
Network Engineer http://www.insight-media.co.uk/users/nutrocker

[This message has been edited by DDavidson (edited 02-03-2000).]

[bernardino]

I already tried all the speed configurations possible (10/half, 10/full, 100/half, 100/full) and it didn't work in any of them. The auto was the last i tried.

I am already considering a hub. Today i tried a transfer of 2 files (82 MB) and it was over 1 HOUR when i decided to quit it !!!

Could someone explain the "Early Tx Threshold" ? Which values should be good ?