I am running Redhat 9 on a Dell Optiplex GX240. (kernel version 2.4.20-13.9) I am using the integrated NIC 3C920. (compatible with 3C905C-TX compatible) Using module 3c59x.o.

The network connection that the computer is connected to is running 100-FULL. (Cisco switch - not that it should matter) The policy here is that the NIC is configured to match the switch port.

If I use the 3C90XCFG.EXE configuration program to set the NIC I get the following:

Set to Autonegotiate:
The interface starts properly. I can then use mii-diag to adjust the NIC to 100-FULL.

Set to 100-FULL:
The interface does not start. mii-diag states: no link present - no MII transeiver present.

The network tests in 3C90XCFG.EXE pass for both configurations. The computers dual boot with Windows XP and Windows XP works with both configurations.

This works on identical computers running Redhat 7.3.

Thanks in advance.

The answer to your problem lies with the 3com driver.

Apparently there is a autonegotiation problem between cisco gigabyte switches with 3com network cards.

If you upgrade the version of the 3com driver you most likely won't run into this problem.

I found this out when I was taking a linux class in a room that was having its network reconfigured every week. Finally they just replaced the cisco switches with linksys and all was solved.