Troubleshooting flaky network - Linux Setup, Configuration & Administration

[Jonathan]

On my dual boot computer, under Linux (IBM ThinkPad A30 with RH8.0), I
have intermittent network flakiness. It shifts between the following
states:

* It works fine (this happens about 75% of the time).
* It lags--it works, just more slowly.
* An existing connection freezes. This kind of thing happens more
frequently with longer-lived connections.
* It acts as if the network cables are unplugged.

It seems to move randomly from one to the other; I haven't discerned
patterns beyond more failure with longer-lived connections.

I tried to duplicate these under Windows so I could tell a shop how to
duplicate a hardware problem, and couldn't get much of any
duplication under Linux. So it appears that something in Linux that
talks with the network is responsible for the flakiness.

Two basic questions:

1: Does the differing behaviour, as I believe, suggest software rather
than hardware trouble?

2: If it's a software problem, how do I go about troubleshooting it?

TIA,
++ Jonathan Hayward, com
** To see an award-winning website with stories, essays, artwork,
** games, and a four-dimensional maze, why not visit my home page?
** All of this is waiting for you at http://JonathansCorner.com

[mjt]

Jonathan Hayward wrote:
 

.... you havent provided enough info to work from. how about
the complete h/w specs of the box, modem, router, etc etc
and the software stuff: browser/Internet software/firewall,
etc etc

show the output of:
# ifconfig
..
--
/// Michael J. Tobler: motorcyclist, surfer, skydiver, \\\
\\\ and author: "Inside Linux", "C++ HowTo", "C++ Unleashed" ///
\\\ http://pages.sbcglobal.net/mtobler/mjt_linux_page.html ///
Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle-aged men. - Kin Hubbard

[Jonathan]

mjt <com> wrote in message news:<IIkfb.154$news.prodigy.com>... 
>
> ... you havent provided enough info to work from. how about
> the complete h/w specs of the box, modem, router, etc etc
> and the software stuff: browser/Internet software/firewall,
> etc etc
>
> show the output of:
> # ifconfig
> .[/ref]

My problem has been resolved. My computer wasn't talking correctly
with a 10Mb hub; my Dad installed a newer 100Mb hub and it's been
working smoothly. Thanks for the reply.

++ Jonathan Hayward, com
** To see an award-winning website with stories, essays, artwork,
** games, and a four-dimensional maze, why not visit my home page?
** All of this is waiting for you at http://JonathansCorner.com