Bug 58088

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Description of problem:
Not sure if this is a kernel-related problem or if it is how the default kernel
is set up, but when installing a fresh Version of RH 7.1-7.2 or using kernels
after 2.2.17 Red Hat uses a 3c59x driver for the 3c905b card.  It installs
properly and seems to work, but the packets are garbled, rendering the card
useless.  Downgrading the kernel to RH 7.0 2.2.16 fixes the problem. I have a
solution for 2.4 kernels as well.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):


How reproducible:
Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1.Install Red Hat linux on an FIC FD-11 with a Pentium 3 800 processor and 3com
3c905b NIC.
2.Let kudzu do its thing.
3.Sit back and wonder.
	

Actual Results:  It is impossible to even ping another computer on the network
when properly configured.  No error messages are reported, except "host
unreachable" when you ping. It actually sends packets, but they are junk.

Expected Results:  The card should be able to communicate with other computers
on the network.

Additional info:

As stated before, Downgrading to a red hat 2.2.16 kernel seems to fix the
problem... Seems this problem arose around 2.2.18 or so  I have seen this in
Mandrake as well, so I do not believe it is a kudzu problem. Swapping/Removing
changing to other cards yields no change in its errant behavior.  

To fix the problem on RH 7.2 with the stock 2.4 kernel, go to
http://support.3com.com/infodeli/tools/nic/linuxdownloads.htm.  Download the
appropriate driver for your card and kernel and closest os type. (if unsure
exactly type cat /proc/pci and look for your card type). I used
3c90x-102.tar.gz. which said it was for 7.1 but it obviously works for 7.2 as
well... You just have to compile the module is all. 

Follow the instructions EXPLICITLY to compile and install the module (you will
need rpms 'kernel-headers' and 'kernel-source' plus the standard compillers
installed to do this). 

Then edit the line in your /etc/modules.conf file from 'alias eth0 3c59x' to
'alias eth0 3c90x' (no quotes).

Reboot and surprise surprise, the network works...spooky! 

This should be fixed.  If this driver is not part of the standard kernel tree it
should be added anyways, or if it is a bug in the 3c59x driver it needs fixing
as there are a lot of us guys with these cards out there.  Better yet, this
should be forwarded to the kernel guys, as it seems to affect multiple
distributions, and there is a high likelihood it is kernel-level specific.

This was the one linux mystery that has haunted me for about four months, so I
hope it will be helpful to others, as I have not seen a similar listing.