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

[shimi]

On Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 11:40 AM, Nadav Har'El <nyh at math.technion.ac.il>wrote:

> On Sun, Aug 29, 2010, shimi wrote about "Re: Can there be an Ethernet
> Switch that doesn't work with Linux???":
>
>  > It could be that there's an Ethernet negotiation problem, in such a way
> that
> > your MAC doesn't get registered on the switch (?). Not necessarily a
> Linux
> > problem. Maybe a NIC problem, or an Ethernet cable problem. Of course
> that
> > with a Hub that would work anyways, because a Hub broadcasts to all
> ports,
> > regardless of negotiation...
>
> Like I said on a previous mail, the speed negotiation works. The guess that
> the switch has a bug and forgets my computer's MAC address makes sense, but
> how come it forgets the Linux computer's and remembers the Windows one? :(
>
>
>
I didn't mention 'speed' in my message.

I don't have really deep knowledge in this, but what I do know (and of
course stand to be corrected...), is that part of 'switching', when an
Ethernet link goes up, both sides "announce" their MACs to the other end;
This data is then stored, and used to decide to which physical port should
the Ethernet frame be sent. That's what SWITCHing is all about.

What I was suggesting is that something went wrong there, this is regardless
to speed, MDI-X, etc. etc. and perhaps the wrong MAC was registered, or
something similar. That would cause traffic destined to your MAC to not
arrive to your port. Theoretically it fits ;)

-- Shimi
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