NIC driver bugs in linux?

[Erik Longo Reidler]

Hi, I have got a mandrake 9.1 Linux server and have tried this out with
conectiva linux and also redhat.

I get the same problem.

Some network cards tend to hang themselves when there is too much
frequent traffic on them.

The box has one realtek 10 Mbps (connected to the adsl modem and I have
never had trouble with it) two TLAN (The ones that hang.. Only a reboot
helps bringing them back. Not even network restart)

I have even tried Intel ETHER EXPRESSS PRO and TULIP Network cards. Same
problem.

In example.. If I run Limewire from a workstation connected to this
card. I use no hubs at the moment. Could this be a NIC driver issue?
(The realtek never fails me but it is a 10 Mbps card.. I would rather
not use it too much..)

Some aditional information: One of the workstations had a 10 Mbps card
and the other one has a 100 Mbps card (The Intel Ether Express Pro wich
has hung one or two times also on the workstation.)

The NICS seem not to like excessive TCP/IP, NFS, APPLETALK and/or FTP
traffic in excess.

It makes them hang earlier.

Well, if I just browse the internet, listen to mp3 via nfs and other
lighter things on the workstations, the NICs never hang..

Does anyone have a clue?

Regards,

Erik Reidler