Can't establish Gigabit connection

Hi there,

I'm having a problem setting up a Gigabit connection between my Laptop and my Desktop (Windows 7 Peer to Peer connection). When I plug the cable, the connection is established but lasts about less than a second before it's disconnected again. After about another 10 seconds, the connection is established again for less than a second etc. When the connection is established during that second, the speed is indeed set to 1Gbit/sec, as it should be.

What I'm seeing on the Laptop's adapter (Compal):

1. A network cable is unplugged (constantly)

What I'm seeing on the Desktop's adatper (Antec):

1. A network cable is unplugged (for about 10seconds)
2. Identifying (for about a second)
3. Unidentified network (For about less than a second)
4. And back to "A network cable is unplugged"

The problem lies with the laptop (Compal). I've tried to connect three other laptops to my Desktop (on both Ethernet cards) and they all established a Gigabit connection without any problem.
I've tested the following cables:

• Straight cable (Cat5e)
• Crossover cable (Cat5e)
• Cat5 cables

All of those cables worked with the other laptops, just not with the Compal.

The network interfaces on both computers are all set to the default factory settings. If I go into advanced settings and change the Speed & Duplex to 100Mbits on the Compal, the Compal immediately establishes a connection without any problem but setting it to 1Gbit or Auto Negotiation gives the same problem again.

I've got some Diagnostic software for the Ethernet card on the Laptop, and for the D-Link card on the desktop, so if you need any info from those please don't hesitate to ask. I've even got a packet sniffer available if you'd need some info from those. Also, if you require more specifications from either of the mentioned machines I'd be happy to upload a full hardware report.

Code:

[B]Laptop (Compal JHL90) - Referred to as "Compal"[/B]
------------------------------------------------
Operating System:	Windows 7 Ultimate (64Bits)
Ethernet:		Realtek 8168 (PCIe x1, 10/100/1000)
Ethernet Drivers:	Realtek 7.18.322.2010 (22nd of March, 2010)

Other info:
Motherboard:		Intel ICH9M (Cantiga)
Processor:		Intel Core 2 Duo T9400
Memory:			4GB DDR2 800Mhz (Dual Channel)
Graphics card:		nVidia 9600M GT
Hard Drive:		320GB 7200RPM

Code:

[B]Desktop - Referred to as "Antec"[/B]
--------------------------------
OS:			Windows 7 Ultimate (32Bits)
Ethernet1:		Onboard - nVidia nForce 10/100/1000
Ethernet1 Drivers:	nVidia 73.1.4.0 (30th of July, 2009)
Ethernet2:		D-Link DGE-530T	(10/100/1000)
Ethernet2 Drivers:	Marvell 10.51.1.9 (6th of December, 2007)

Other info:
Motherboard:		Asrock M3N78D
Processor:		AMD Athlon 2 X4 635
Memory:			2GB DDR3 1334Mhz (Dual Channel)
Graphics card:		ATI Radeon X800 XL
Hard Drive1:		Western Digital 250GB (SATA)
Hard Drive2:		Samsung Spinpoint F1 750GB (SATA)

Thanks in advance!
DePhille

 

First, let me say, an awesome post in describing a problem succinctly and providing information.

Second, wow, no real idea.

Third, have you tried with a giganit ethernet switch between them?

 

Are you absolutely sure that the systems that appear to connect at gig speeds are really doing so? Might actually be connecting at 100-something.

Technically, gigabit cards require a live switch to actually run a gigabit connection. 10/100 can and will connect most times with a direct cable.

Have you verified that all of the systems is question actually have gigabit-capable hardware and that firmware/drivers are fully up to date.

That some systems might ignore part of the gig-e spec and appear to connect with a direct cable *might* be saying something about their lack of adherence to standards (which in turn makes one wonder what else is missing from that implementation) than a lack of capability on systems that don't connect at gig-e speeds without a switch.

 

It sounds like an auth problem, is the reason for the drop. Use a Cat7 cable. If both pc fully support the Cat7 spec it will connect with a std cable if not a crossover is required.

 

cat6 is fine for gigabit ethernet==cat7 is for 10 Gigabit Ethernet

I agree with newsposter...pretty sure you need a switch to handle gb ethernet

 

A CAT5e cable works with GigE, too. That's what I ran in-wall throughout my house and I get gigabit speeds.

To the OP: if you haven't already done so, check for updated chipset and ethernet drivers.

 

The connection should work without a Gigabit Hub inbetween (= Peer to Peer) since it works with any other laptop, just not the Compal. Same goes for the cables, I've tested four cables with the other laptops:
- Cat5E Straight
- Cat5E Crossover
- Cat6 Straight
- Cat6 Crossover
And all of the above cables made a good and stable Gigabit connection between the other laptops, without any Hub or switch inbetween. I've tested them by transferring files. The speed was about 40/50 MB/sec, which is the harddisk's maximum writing speed.

Both systems should indeed be fully gigabit capable. The adapter is the Realtek 8168, and it is known as being Gigabit capable.

I'm guessing it is a problem with the standards too, since I get the connection for just a brief second. Either that or some security problem. However, both of these can be solved by changing the right setting, so if anyone knows of such a setting I could try, please let me know. I'm suspecting this setting is either in the Gigabit adapter or Windows 7.

I don't have a Cat7 cable, but I think it should work with Cat5e too, since the other laptops can connect trough them without any problems.

I have the newest drivers for both Ethernet and Chipset, but I could try some of the older drivers to see if there's any change there.

Thanks for all your help so far, I'll let you know if anything works.
DePhille

 

And............

 

it has to do with LLC at layer 2 of the issue. but now you are getting technical