Weird networking issue.
Mikael Abrahamsson
swmike at swm.pp.se
Wed Jan 8 07:39:28 UTC 2003
On Wed, 8 Jan 2003, Stephen J. Wilcox wrote:
> So thats human error not a problem with using forced settings, eliminate the
> human error and I think you'll see forced always works, autoneg sometimes
> works. (For future reference dont employ incompetent people to run your networks
> folks!)
Problem with autoneg is that you always have to have manageble equipment
and you always have to check both ends after changing anything. In an ISP
environment that is generally not a problem luckily, apart from the
equipment you connect to on the customer side, some customers insist on
using cheapo stuff.
Autoneg does add good things, especially on GigE. Autoneg on a GigE yields
the most desireable effect of "link loss return", ie if you lose fiber
link one way the link goes down at both ends.
> Have you looked at what autoneg is.. its horrible, a hack to help out the above
> incompetent engineers who dont know how to force duplex.
Hmm, I might draw the same conclusion regarding automatic gear boxes on
cars but I think I should not considering the situation in the US
regarding that perticular issue :)
Personally I think the idea with autoneg is really a good thing, why
shouldnt two units advertise their capabilities and then act accordingly
to what they both can do? We do the same on SMTP (EHLO) and so on.
--
Mikael Abrahamsson email: swmike at swm.pp.se
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