Update on Shuttle/DLink problems

Here's a few more details on the problem with the new Shuttle. First, the card is a DLink DFE-530TX; the Shuttle is an SK43G. If the DLink is connected to my internal network switch, and from there to the gateway box, this sequence will make it freeze:

1. ifconfig eth1 192.168.0.1
2. route add default gw 192.168.0.254
3. ssh 192.168.23.254

Interestingly, if the network cable is unplugged, the problem doesn't show up...so it appears there's something about the response to the three-way handshake is what's causing the problems.

I managed to find some reports of wireless cards locking up hard with the VIA KM400 chipset, including cards from DLink. I tried setting all the IRQs to "Reserved" in the BIOS, and that didn't work; however, the card was grabbing IRQ 17, and the BIOS wouldn't let me reserve that one. I also tried upgrading the BIOS, and that didn't work either.

I'd love to pursue it further, but it's now officially the new webserver; I wanted to get it installed while I had a day to fool around with it and get everything working. So far there don't appear to be any problems.

And now, of course, I've got what used to be Thornhill as my desktop machine: P3 500MHz, 640Mb, and a new 160GB Seagate Barracuda. Once again, I'm going with Debian, God's own distro. Still gotta come up with a name for it.

I'm currently trying out KDE and Konqueror -- usually I use IceWM and Firefox, but I thought I'd give something fancier a try now that I've got a slightly hibbier machine. It's not bad so far, although having to set up all the keyboard shortcuts that come with Ice is a little annoying. We'll see how long it lasts.