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

[Alon Barzilai]

  Hi,

To make sure its not hardware related, I would try to boot both windows 
and linux computers from your favorite live CD.
I think its less hassle than changing cards/cables.

Alon.


On 8/29/2010 12:27 AM, Nadav Har'El wrote:
> 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.
>