Can there be an Ethernet Switch that doesn't work with Linux???

[Nadav Har'El]

While I have quite a bit of networking experience, I have found myself
stumped by a frustrating problem in my home network - which surprisingly
appears Linux-specific - and I wonder if anyone ever saw such a thing.

I have a typical home network. In one room, I have several computers, so I
want to use an additional switch there. I got an EDIMAX ES-3208P 100 Mbps
switch (90 shekels, at Bug).

Now, what happens is that while my wife's Windows computer works well with
that switch, my Linux computer does not. Sniffing the network, I see that
my Linux computer sends out DHCP broadcasts (to get an IP address from the
house's DHCP server) or ARP broadcasts (to contact the gateway), but while
replies for these queries are being generated, they are not forwarded by the
switch to my Linux computer!

When I replace the switch with a 10-year-old hub I had lying around (good
thing I didn't toss that museum piece), suddenly everything works!

I could have concluded that that EDIMAX switch is simply broken, if it
weren't for the fact the Windows computer works perfectly behind it! What
could possibly be the cause for the Windows computer to connect correctly
behind the switch, while the Linux computer doesn't? Has anyone ever seen
such a problem?

Thanks for any ideas,
Nadav.

-- 
Nadav Har'El                        |        Sunday, Aug 29 2010, 19 Elul 5770
nyh at math.technion.ac.il             |-----------------------------------------
Phone +972-523-790466, ICQ 13349191 |I don't eat snails. I prefer fast food.
http://nadav.harel.org.il           |