On a Sony Vaio laptop (Model PCG GRT816S) I had a really WEIRD Network problem (using Wired connections).
The network would start fine from Boot (via DHCP) and network card would start fine -- eth0 would get a valid IP address from the DHCP server.
Machine starts in run level 3 -- no automatic X server start -- I do that deliberately as if there's any problems you can see the console before it's too late.
Could Ping anywhere including internet addresses like
www.bbc.co.uk or
www.google.co.uk
However once I started X all Network connectivity was lost.
I remembered a really old thread on this suggesting that the SMP kernel be installed.
I did this simply with Yast --ticked Kernel SMP and the SMP-non GPL. After Yast had installed the kernel it told me to re-boot to use the new kernel.
Worked like a treat -- no Internet / network probs.
The processor in the Sony Laptop is a standard (non mobile) Intel 2.8 processor (that's why this laptop has hideously small battery lifetimes) but runs blazingly fast for an older laptop.
Never realized it needed an SMP kernel however --but it fixed the problem.
(I had to bring the Sony out of retirement as the nice lightweight laptop I'd been using - a HP dv1000 wasn't too rugged when being moved a lot and now has a cracked screen). - Always the problem between light and portable or strong, built likr a battleship but weighs like one as well).
Cheers
-K
