I have a simple network Win98SE m/c and a Linux Mandrake 9.2. m/c.

Using WS_FTP Pro to FTP from Win to Linux, ProFTPD takes 20seconds to connect and a further 40 seconds to resolve password, 1min in all.

After login my Lan speed Linux to Win98 is 102 Mbps , Win to Linux is around 75Mbps which is OK.

Now with the same setup I used to get near instantaneous login but slow transfer only 10Mps and 1Mbps respectively until I upgraded the driver on the Win PC. Both PC's use Realtek 8139c Nic

What could have happened, could it be a bug?

Any ideas please, as I'm near desperation.

How do I get instantaneous login again?

I'm guessing that you are doing some kind of DNS lookup. Try putting your hostname and IP in the hosts file of the linux box - ie:
192.168.1.5 win98pc

Many thanks. I went and double checked my etc/hosts file well I could have made an error I was pretty fed-up by trying all sorts of changes.

Anyway FTP login times were then halved to 10 secs for connection and 20 secs to resolve password,so 30 secs instead of one minute.

So I then specifically added and allowed the WinPC IP address into the etc/proftpd.conf file. Bingo intantaneoues login.

Now this is strange 'cos I've never tried modifying the default etc/proftpd.conf file before.

Anyway result happiness!

do you have identd running on your linux box?

any kind of reverse DNS checks by proftpd?