CF-27 + Linux networking issues - help please!

hi, please help a toughbook n00b out...

I have a CF-27EJ6...
BIOS version: 2.10L13B
300MHz PII 256MB RAM
Floppy drive - no CDROM
I have successfully installed Debian Etch via boot floppies and upgraded over the 'net to Lenny (kernel 2.6.26) using a PCMCIA 3com 3CXFE575CT NIC.

Using DWM I can run Firefox 3.5.3 (with Weave and NoScript extensions) and mplayer just fine - so I can surf and listen to internet radio on a nice cheap knock-about machine when out and about (My old iBook was getting very distressed).

But (here we go) I have a problem.

When under load (radio streaming for example - or copying larger files over a LAN) the NIC will flake out, repeatedly reporting...

Host error, FIFO Diagnostic register 0000
PCI bus error, bus status 80000020
Setting Full Duplex
Too much work in interrupt, status e003

...until I eject and re-insert the card into the PCMCIA slot - which fixes the problem - for a while anyway.
Blaming the card - I bought an Atheros based PCMCIA Wifi card and set it up to use the Madwifi driver with wpa_supplicant and wpa_gui.
I am having problems using this card also - this time the whole machine locks up periodically.
Again ejecting and re-inserting the card temporarily fixes the problem.
I now believe the machine (not the cards) is the problem.

Suspecting an interrupt issue, this is what I have tried so far...

Disabled everything else I can in BIOS (except sound)

Removed the 128MB RAM card from behind the touchpad (leaving 128MB internal).

Tried appending the following commands and combinations thereof to GRUB:
noapic
nolapic
acpi=off
noacpi
pci=usepirqmask
irqpoll

clocksource=hpet
(after spotting a 'tsc clocksource unstable' message as the Wifi card locked up the machine one time)

Upgraded to kernel version 2.6.30 (by moving to Squeeze) - no dice here - the 3com card still gives the same trouble and the ath_pci module is missing from Squeeze - the fall-back ath5k module is currently junk. I've moved back to Lenny for now.

Tried looking for a BIOS update on
https://ftps.panasonic.com
I cannot find updates for the EJ - only for EB models
I cannot figure out whether I have the latest BIOS version or not.

My questions are these please:

Have I got the latest BIOS version available for my machine (2.10L13B)?

Has anyone else got Debian Lenny running on one of these with reliable networking, and if so - how?

What alternative Linux distros will install and run on this machine and run Firefox 3.5.3 (please remember I have no optical drive for it, and I'm reluctant to spend any more money on it as the whole idea was that it was going to be a cheapo disposable machine)?

Any help offered much appreciated!

Maybe I can help out with some one else's problem too (Don't ask me about Windows though - I know nothing)!

 

I will try to help, but it has been a very long time since I used a networking card in a pcmcia slot

On the earlier models the cf-25 that I used to have there was a question on the type of cards used and something to do with 32bit support, or 16bit or cardbus standards

This might not effect you on your newer cf-27 ,but I would download the manual and check the specifications on you cf-27 just to be sure
If the card will fit in the second slot I would try that as well
And check on driver updates for your network cards

I am useless at anything but windows , so others here will have to give you more suggestions

I don’t see a bios update helping ,but here is Two links to other bios updates for your cf-27 mk-2

Version: 202L19b
http://www.panasonic.ca/PDP/Drivers/cf27_mk2_w2k_v202l19.exe


And


Version: 202L10G
http://www.panasonic.ca/PDP/Software/cf27_ mk2_v202l10.exe

Either of them will do no harm to your cf-27 to try


Alex

 

Thankyou!

I've checked the manual - and my 32bit cards are supported - They actually do work (just not very well).

I have tried both cards (individually) in both slots.

Am I correct in assuming that 202L19b is the newer of the two BIOS files you linked to?

My current BIOS ver is reported as 2.10L13B. Wouldn't this be equivalent to 210L13B - ie: newer still? I'm a bit confused about this.

On Panasonic's FTP server I was offered both 27m2t13b.exe and 29m2bl19.ZIP for Windows 2000 (the latest MS OS mentioned).
Both in Home/Drivers/CF-27/CF-27E/Windows 2000/BIOS/
Path looks right (CF-27E) - but both Readme.txts refer to CF-27EB only.

I can't make sense of these numbers :[

 

I think you are ok with the number being off
If its not right it won't update
I did not see your exact number either ,but I am sure its ok to give it a try
In the info files for the bios, the reason given for updates was nothing of any importance to your issue
One file I found had something to do with changing the battery sstting for hot enviorments
I would not worry on the bios, realy look in other areas


Alex

 

Can't get either of the BIOS files above to work.
The Win2k one quits reporting that the target machine is not present, naming specifically the CF-27MkII which I have.
The other one starts unpacking its files - then just reboots the machine - etc. etc.
I'm using Caldera DRDOS.
I've set up more PC's and laptops than I'd care to remember over the years.
I've never run into such a pig.
I'm starting to think my machine is just a bad one - shame.
Anyone in the UK after some parts?