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

[Oleg Goldshmidt]

On Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 4:52 PM, Micha <michf at post.tau.ac.il> wrote:

> Could it be that the switch is just killing the dhcp negotiation,

The switch isn't supposed to know anything about DHCP. If I am reading
Nadav's original post correctly, the request get to the server, and
the server sends a response, but the switch does not forward the
response to the Linux box.

> what happens if you hardwire the addresses?

A similar problem with ARP has been mentioned.

It sounds like there is a problem either with LDP (link discovery
protocol) or with STP (spanning tree protocol) or MAC table
implementation or something. These things are standardized to the
umpteenth degree, the chances that there is something intentionally
breaking Linux are minuscule, IMHO...

While a HW problem cannot be excluded I'd trust Nadav to have swapped
cables and ports around, etc. I understand also that the NIC works
fine in a different topology - even when connected to a bus/hub the
peers have to keep MAC tables, etc., and they understand whan the NIC
is sending.

Nadav, if you are willing to "splurge" for a different switch (maybe
you can borrow one to test?), and it fixes the problem, then I'd say
write it down to Edimax over Geoff's objections ;-) and forget about
it. If it happens with a different switch, then it will become really
interesting (and maybe borrowing another NIC from someone will be in
order?).

-- 
Oleg Goldshmidt | oleg at goldshmidt.org