Topic: Internet fails, is the a faulty network card

[Mark Robinson]

Hi

I have a e-smith server (4.1.1) running on a home network to share internet access ( from a cable modem ) between 4 computers. The problem is that every so often, usually between 2 and 8 hours of internet access the computers can no longer access the internet and can no longer ping the e-smith server. A reboot of the server always fixes this.
Originally I though this was a problem with the server ( "this runs Linux, it shouldn't need rebooted EVER " is what I was telling those in the house ) and thankfully after some investigation I released that when the internet connection "dies" on our computers the server is still connected to the internet, ( by hooking up a monitor and using the "test internet connection" from the menu. )
So now I release that the problem must be with either the internal network card or the hub that we are using.
Now I finally come to the point of this message. Is there anyway I can check if the internal network card is still "working" when the connection dies the next time ? ( then I can narrow the fault down to the hub.) I don't want to have to buy a new network card to do this.
Or has anyone else had any similar problems or know what I should do.

Thanks for any help

Mark

[Graeme Robinson]

A quick way to test the hub is to eliminate it - use a 'cross-over' cable (where the polarity of the wires are reversed between end connectors rather than 'straight-through') to connect your server directly to another computer on the network and see how reliably that works.