LinuxQuestions.org - Network delay/Samba

Hallo to all,

I am a linux newbie and I have the following problem

A PC with
SO: Linux Mandrake 9.1 2.4.21-0.13(bamboo)
MoBo: Asus P4P8X
Ethernet: 1 Gigabit 3c940 LOM (i.e. 3c2000 driver, vers -066)

A PC with
SO: Windows 98 SE
Ethernet: DLink 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet PCI Adapter
Modem 56k D-Link -> internet

They are connected by a twisted pair cable (i.e. no hub) 2 m. (6 ft.) long.

It works with ping (both on IP address and NetBIOS names).

I have some problems with Samba (vers. 2.2.7a):
1. the linux PC is unable to see the PC Win98 shared directories.
2. the PC Win98 is able to see the PC Linux shared directories, but can only open/copy file less than 2K in size (Error message: source no longer available).

Thus, assuming that IP is working fine, and after trying several option on samba config file with no success, I installed a telnet server on PC Linux and try to connect from the PC win98 (I have a suspect on TCP settings). The results is that the telnet is very (too much) slow... I wait several seconds (10 or more) to obtain
an answer, and often I have a timeout (connection lost) error...

Any ideas? Where I can take a look to find a solution on such problem?

Thanks for any suggestion...

Giuseppe

PS. of course, I can post the config files or more information, if needed...