3com 3c905b cyclone full/half duplex switch

[Willem]

Hi

I have bought a 3com 905b cyclone card which doesn't perform that well
(about 98% packet loss). I suspect it to be in full duplex (while it is
connected to a half-duplex network) but the config program for the 3c90x
that I downloaded from 3com's site states that it is in half-duplex. (I'm
talking about 3C90XCFG.EXE - dos program)

Now are there any utilities, either for windows or for linux, that force it
to be in halfduplex? For windows I know there are, because they were shipped
with the cards I have installed for a company. But I can't find them on the
3com site.

In Linux, I've read /usr/src/linux/Documentation/networking/vortext.txt,
which tells me that there are specific options to force the card to be in
full duplex. So am I right to conclude that it defaults to half duplex?

Please send me such utility or give me an url? Thanks so much in advance,
Willem

[Peter van der Landen]

On Sun, 31 Jan 1999 15:29:19 +0100, "Willem" <sp...@dikkelul.com>
wrote:

You are right. Even if you switch to FD using the setup software it
will still go back to HD. It also seems to default to 10Mb if your
switch/hub supports that.

The solution is to compile the driver as a module and load it like
this:

/sbin/modprobe 3c59x options=5 full_duplex=1

This sets 100Mb mode & full duplex, setting full_duplex=0 will
probably select Half Duplex instead.

Regards,

Peter van der Landen

---------------------------------------------------------------------
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Tel +31-10-4082237 (home 2800956) Fax +31-10-2800957
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[Erik]

Here is a website that you can find the very LATEST linux drivers for that
card:

http://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux/drivers/vortex.html

I have the 3C905B running in many servers including a dual processor kernel.
This page will give you options of downloading precompiled versions or
provides the source for you. I recommend grabbing the source and following
the compile instructions at the bottom (also includes instructions for
compiling on SMP dual processor kernels!). Then replace the module and
either reboot or run modprobe and you should be good to go.

When I first installed the card on my boxes it would never autodetect the
line (half/full duplex or 10/100). After compiling it always autosenses
correctly on bootup (Granted I also have 3Com switch :).

"3c59x.c:v0.99H 11/17/98 Donald Becker
http://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux/drivers/vortex.html"

See if this helps,

Erik Barker
Sys Admin

Willem wrote in message <791pil$5rj$1...@dinkel.civ.utwente.nl>...

>Hi
>
>I have bought a 3com 905b cyclone card which doesn't perform that well
>(about 98% packet loss). I suspect it to be in full duplex (while it is
>connected to a half-duplex network) but the config program for the 3c90x
>that I downloaded from 3com's site states that it is in half-duplex. (I'm
>talking about 3C90XCFG.EXE - dos program)
>
>Now are there any utilities, either for windows or for linux, that force it
>to be in halfduplex? For windows I know there are, because they were
shipped
>with the cards I have installed for a company. But I can't find them on the
>3com site.
>
>In Linux, I've read /usr/src/linux/Documentation/networking/vortext.txt,
>which tells me that there are specific options to force the card to be in
>full duplex. So am I right to conclude that it defaults to half duplex?
>
>Please send me such utility or give me an url? Thanks so much in advance,

>Willem
>
>