[tech] a query on troubleshooting an Ethernet card

[Nick Bannon]

On Mon, May 22, 2000 at 12:26:25PM -0700, David Graeme Chinnery wrote:
> Hey folks,
> 
> I figured someone might have a clue about this. I bought a computer
> for myself, and have been in the process of setting stuff up. Reading
> web pages (http) works fine ... but ftp doesn't ... it was sitting
[...]

Most odd, but that would seem to rule out a hardware error - all TCP,
including HTTP, needs to send some data as well as receive. The way to tell
for sure would be to swap the card with another (known working) one.

If you're crossing a firewall, which allows only outgoing connections,
that would explain it. Default, normal, FTP makes a control connection out
and then gets the server to make connections back to actually send files.
If you can do "passive mode" FTP instead, that's the problem. (try
ftp://user:password@hostname/ in a web browser instead of FTP at the command
line)

[...]
> It's failing Ethernet loopback tests, and the cable is fine (checked
> it with another computer).

Weird. That's the test program which comes with the card that's telling you
that, I take it?

> Thanks,
> :)
> Dave.
> PS: I'm working down in Silicon Valley for the summer, then back to 
> getting on with my Ph.D. after that. It should be a nice break.

Sounds fun. Know anyone who wants a UNIX or ORACLE administrator for
telecommuting? ::-)

Nick.

-- 
  Nick Bannon  | "I made this letter longer than usual because
nick at it.net.au | I lack the time to make it shorter." - Pascal