SDB:Livebox

The Livebox is an network router that Internet access providers lease to their patrons. Its ethernet interface may defeat the setup procedure of newer computers, then the access to internet is exceedingly slow. This article explains what to do.

Tested on openSUSE

12.1

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Hardware

Livebox

An internet access box and local network router, dating from a few years. Offers ethernet and WiFi networking of computers.

Your Computer

Your computer has a newer ethernet interface with gigabit capability. You connected it to the local network through an Ethernet cable.

The Ethernet Issue

Though you set up everything right, your computer hardly accesses the network.

Tests

Open a console. As root

# tail /var/log/messages

Jan  3 23:02:23 linux-desk kernel: [46358.225641] e1000e 0000:00:19.0: eth0: 10/100 speed: disabling TSO
Jan  3 23:02:25 linux-desk kernel: [46359.875882] e1000e: eth0 NIC Link is Down
Jan  3 23:02:27 linux-desk kernel: [46361.550465] e1000e: eth0 NIC Link is Up 100 Mbps Full Duplex, Flow Control: None
Jan  3 23:02:27 linux-desk kernel: [46361.550470] e1000e 0000:00:19.0: eth0: 10/100 speed: disabling TSO
Jan  3 23:02:27 linux-desk kernel: [46361.562789] e1000e: eth0 NIC Link is Down

As you see, the kernel ethernet interface module is e1000e. For some reason, it does not successfully negociate with the router. The router IP address is generally 192.168.1.1 (check your documentation).

# ping 192.168.1.1

reports delays and packet loss

# ethtool eth0

reports the situation of your computer ethernet interface. It has Auto-negociation on, and the Speed is likely 100Mb/s or more (which your Livebox can't match).

ACTION

Force the speed of your computer ethernet interface

# ethtool -s eth0 speed 10 duplex full

You should get your connection right for the current session. If true, make the change permanent. Edit /etc/sysconfig/network/ifcfg-eth0, line ETHTOOL_OPTIONS, as:

BOOTPROTO='dhcp'
BROADCAST=''
ETHTOOL_OPTIONS='speed 10 duplex full'
IPADDR=''
MTU=''
NAME='Intel Ethernet controller'
NETMASK=''
NETWORK=''
REMOTE_IPADDR=''
STARTMODE='auto'
USERCONTROL='no'
PREFIXLEN='24'

Note: do not copy the -s of the command line options to the file.