Topic: Help: Internet connection with 3C905 not working

[Harald]

Hello all,

My newly set up 5.5 server works internally, i.e. I can access the server-manager and the primary webpage.
'Internal' NIC (eth0) is an ISA 3C509 (no option parameters in /etc/modules.conf).

The external NIC is a PCI 3C905-TX and was recognised by the SME server configuration tool.
Driver is 3c90x.
I can't access the internet with that.
modprobe 3c90x tells me:
" /lib/modules/2.2.19-7.0.8/net/3c90x.o parameter switch delay has max < min!
  ... init_module: Device or resource busy.
  Hint: ... wrong parameters ... [but these are automatically PCI-defined]
  ... insmod failed. "
Could there be something wrong with the BIOS configuration of that NIC?
(The DOS configuration tool for the NIC says: irq = 11; io = E800h, but both attributed by PCI)
How can I find out if there's a conflict and where? Any other hint?

And just another question:
My ISP is German T-Online with DSL ('T-DSL'  with dynamically attributed IP address).
My settings are to use PPPoE.
But the Configuration overview says:
" DHCP client: Disabled (using static IP address)
  Static IP address: 192.168.65.17 "
Is all that OK?
My Internet connection works - but only with a different gateway computer

Thank you for you help!

Harald

[Jesper Holck]

After spending way too much time on getting a NIC to work, my suggestion is: try another card. You can buy cards for maybe 20$ - how many hours of work will you do for that? I installed a NIC with a Realtek rtl8139 chip, and it works flawlessly.

Jesper

[Harald]

Thank you, Jesper, I too thought of that already, but:

The 3com 3c905 is officially supported by SME server and the card itself is OK.
So I guess there's something wrong with the BIOS / PCI or some other setup (and the same could happen with a new card).
I already did put the card into a different PCI slot.
My only problem is that a don't have a clue where to start, especially how to use the diag possibilities in SME server.

Hopefully somebody can help me here.

Harald

[Paul]

I am having a similar problem but I am using server only mode. My card is 3Com 3C900B. SME set up found it but I was not able to access inside or outside of my local network. I am going to look for the Realtek chip set card to try. Please post a msg if you get your system working. I think we are running into the similar problem.

[Harald]

As I didn't succeed in putting my 3C905-TX card to work I followed the advice given here before and changed the card.
I now have two 3C509 cards up and running, the external one (eth1) connected to the DSL modem is a 3C509 combo.
Both cards configured with 3C DOS utility (IRQs and IO ports), no options statements in modules.conf file, IRQs set to 'reserved' in BIOS. Works fine!

On now to futher configuration (mail, news, fax etc.
Thanks to all!

Harald