BIZARRE networking problem..please read

[ejoech]

A few months ago I wired a network into a home consisting of 3 drops...structured cable, used a patch panel, etc. Did everything the right way. They only had one computer and it worked fine for the drop it was connected to. I used my CAT5 tester to test the other two drops and they tested fine. They have since moved the computer into another room and get the "MEDIA DISCONNECTED" error. I brought my laptop andconnected it to the same drop with the same cable and it works perfectly. So I thought hmm, bad NIC. Bought a new NIC and I still get the media disconnected error. So I thought hmm..bad motherboard? So I tried using a different computer(350mhz..old computer)...STILL get the media disconnected error..yet the laptop still works perfectly.

Bizarre right? I've tried messing with every setting..I have no idea what the problem is. It just doesn't make sense. The only difference in ipconfig /all is that on the laptop it says "Node Type: Mixed", while on the computer it says "Node Type: Broadcast". I have no idea what that means or how to change it..but it was the only difference.

Also, the NIC on the laptop is gigabit while the other 3 nics I tried with the desktops were fast ethernet. Any ideas?

The patch cable says "verified to EIA/TIA568B .2 CAT5E" I punched down the keystones and patch panelaccording to 568B standards, not A. Could that be theproblem? I have a feeling it has to do with the gigabit nic perhaps?

I really don't know..extremely confusing!

help please..thank you.

 

[ColdZero]

The Broadcast node thing has to do with your NetBIOS information. It doesn't have to do with getting network connectivity. Thats kinda wierd tho, is windows screwed up? Can you throw a knoppix cd into that computer and see if it can recognize the network?

 

[ejoech]

Never heard of knoppix?

Oh, as far as windows, I forgot to include.

OS on both desktops and laptop is WinXP PRO. Reformatted and reinstalled XP on one of the desktops, still got the error.

They're all connected via a linksys router.

 

[ColdZero]

Knoppix is a version of linux that will boot and run only from a CD, leaving the host system untouched. That way you can test stuff out without hosing the system.

 

[ejoech]

I've never used linux...how easy would it be to test out the network settings??

I doubt it would work with linux if I've repaired winxp and completely reformatted and installed XP on the other..but I'lltry anyway.

I think it has to do with the laptop nic being gigabit..but ive never heard of such a thing?

 

[ColdZero]

Its easy, just download the iso and burn it, it'll boot you to a gui and then you can just try out mozilla, if you can browse, you're good.

 

[ejoech]

As posted on the

The linksys router, is it a gigabit switch, or 100Mbit? The only thing I can suggest is checking the wiring, as a gigabit card can switch the send/receive pairs on it's own, whereas 10/100Mbit cards cannot. Do you have access to a network cable tester? That would be an easy way to see if the pairs are right.

Can anyone elaborate on this or provide some links? I have not heard of a gigabit nic being able to do that.

 

[ColdZero]

Do you have the dropped cable plugging into the uplink port on the switch? Or the WAN port on a router?

Make sure it is not in either of these, just a regular port.

 

[ejoech]

I'm positive it's not in the WAN or uplink port. Triple checked that.

thanks, though.

 

[Sideswipe001]

Have you tried forcing the desktop NIC to 10 or 100 mbits rather than letting it auto sense? Sometimes that will fix issues. Does the light even come on, on the NIC?

 

[ejoech]

checked the wiring today..sure enough i did one of the ends to the 568A standard by accident...re did it to B and it worked fine.

thanks for the help guys.