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Even if network is missconfigured, leds should be on, right?

So here my network map:

modem_------cab1-------(eth0)_linux_(eth1)------cab2----_winxp

the led does NOT work ONLY when I connect eth1 with winxp, they seem to be the same cables.

It used to WORK before, when it was like this:

modem_------cab1-------(eth0)_winxp_(eth1)------cab2----_linux
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Do you see both interfaces in /proc/net/dev? Are they both UP state? – Keith Nov 15 '12 at 17:02
What kind are the interfaces? gigabit ethernet? "fast" ethernet (100MB)? – Keith Nov 15 '12 at 17:03
I think beegeees was close, cable order matters... – juk Nov 15 '12 at 17:16

closed as not a real question by KronoS, TFM, ChrisF, CharlieRB, 8088 Nov 15 '12 at 21:04

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

2 Answers

up vote 2 down vote

if you got a router/switch/hub between then then yes you should get Link_LED_ON if your trying to connect them directly you probably need a differnt cable -> crossover-cable

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No. Most cards have several LEDs. Some which indicate an established link, some which indicate data transmission.

If your cards have no link, e,g, due to a broken cable, or because you use a plain Ethernet (not a crosscable) between olders network interfaces without MDI/MDX then you will not get a link.

Your card could also be one with only a transmission LED. In which case establishing merely a link but not transmitting anything would not cause it to light up.

In your case I would start with:

  1. Do things work as expected, just no LED. (In which case see above two reasons).
  2. If it does not work, do a have a proper cable (cross cable)
  3. Does my cable work with other hardware? (not only right type, but is it also unbroken).

...

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1. NO, xp says no connection, LED works, see edit; 2. used to work, see edit; 3. see 2; – juk Nov 15 '12 at 16:53
OK, wokrs now... I just exchanged cab1 with cab2 and it worked... – juk Nov 15 '12 at 17:14

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