I'm fairly new at linux, but I've managed to get my box up and running and everything works fine. Except transfer speeds.

I'm using proftpd, and the speeds I get transferring files (both sending and recieving) are horrible. From a windows comp connecting to the server directly within the same network I get about 7-8mb/s, then it drops until it's down to 0kb/s, then rushes back up until it's about 7-8mb/s again, then drops, etc. These lagbursts also appear when I transfer smaller files, but in another manner. I transfer maybe 3-4 files, then everything freezes for maybe 4-5 seconds, then 3-4 for files get transferred instantly, then the lag again.

While I don't know of a way to measure the speeds, I get the same effect when transferring files using samba.

I've looked everywhere for an answer, thinking it may have something to do with the network card, or any setting thereabout, but I've found nothing.

Using the 2.6.11-gentoo-r11 kernel on a pundit-R system, Celeron D 2.5ghz, 512mb ram.

I've also noticed that the specs say the nic is a ATI IXP200 integrated MAC + RealTek 8201BL PHY, while lspci says:

Could be this is the integrated mac, of course, but I'm not too good with these things yet.

Anyone have a clue as to where the problem might lie?

I've been testing some more, and it's not only the transfer speeds that goes, the whole comp freezes. Ping times rises from <10 to 200-300, sometimes not responding at all to a packet, mouse lags/freezes for a few seconds (running fluxbox).

Sending (from the gentoo-box to a windows-box) however is not a problem, while not as fast, there's no lag and speed is constant.

I'm really stumped, anyone have an idea at all?