Network Connectivity Problem - Both Ubuntu 12.04 and Windows 8

[SpoonTech]

Hi,

I am having problems with Network Connectivity on my Desktop PC.
The PC is about 6 weeks old. I had no problems with networking for the first month or so, and then suddenly networking became non-existent or intermittent.

Here are the desktop specs:
Gigabyte B85M-DH3 Motherboard
Intel Haswell i5 3.2 GHz
16GB RAM
Nvidia GT640
Windows 8 & Ubuntu 12.04 Dual Boot

Network Controller:

Windows Driver/Controller Description:
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Driver Date: 2012-10-25
Driver Version 8.7.1025.2012

Driver Files:

Provider: Realtek
C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\Rt630x64.sys
File Version: 8.007.1025.2012

Provider: Realtek Semiconsuctor Corporation
File Version: 1, 2, 0, 4
C:\Windows\system32\RtNicProp62.dll

Ubuntu Driver/Controller Information: (sudo lshw)
RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.

(When writing this post I booted into Ubuntu - no network connectivity, I then disconnected and reconnected the networking in the menu and then it connected)

Problem description:
Networking shows "Network Cable Unplugged" or "Limited Connectivity". When it shows limited connectivity I cannot access the internet. Sometimes it shows that it is connected but times out when uploading or downloading.

The problem occurs on BOTH Windows 8 and Ubuntu 12.04 (which originally made me think it was a hardware issue)

The problem occurs most often in Windows when returning from sleep, after the computer has not been used for a while. The network needs to be disabled and re-enabled or the system restarted to fix the problem. Sometimes even after restarting the networking, or the computer, the problem still persists.

I found a resolution to the issue of "network cable unplugged" on windows, which required disabling "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" for the network controller. This didn't seem to help.



I have checked the network cable and router ports, none of which are problematic. (My MacBook Pro works fine using the same cable and port).

 

[Happy Camper]

hmm, strange problem! In your network settings (In Ubuntu) check the connection settings you are using and make sure the 'automatically connect' option is ticked, apply it and restart the network manager by opening a terminal and: sudo network-manager stop, and then sudo network-manager start. This should sort it out when you resume from a sleep.

 

[SpoonTech]

hmm, strange problem! In your network settings (In Ubuntu) check the connection settings you are using and make sure the 'automatically connect' option is ticked, apply it and restart the network manager by opening a terminal and: sudo network-manager stop, and then sudo network-manager start. This should sort it out when you resume from a sleep.

In Ubuntu the connection is already set to connect automatically.

 

[tnt11]

In Ubuntu the connection is already set to connect automatically.

Check the box to make the connection available to all users? I've had a similar issue, and that resolved it.

 

[SpoonTech]

Check the box to make the connection available to all users? I've had a similar issue, and that resolved it.

This box is already checked. I do not believe it is something trivial like this. It occurs on both OS's, and only started happening after over a month of having the PC. I think it is some kind of driver/firmware issue for the Realtek controller. Failing this, I think it may be a hardware issue.

 

[tnt11]

This box is already checked. I do not believe it is something trivial like this. It occurs on both OS's, and only started happening after over a month of having the PC. I think it is some kind of driver/firmware issue for the Realtek controller. Failing this, I think it may be a hardware issue.

That was gonna be my first guess. I remember having issues with a realtek controller and driver. For me it was purely an Ubuntu problem, but it does sound like yours is the driver/firmware.

 

[bdt]

How about resetting the network stack? From Windows, with an elevated/admin cmd prompt issue:
cd\
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset new.txt
...& then, as required, reboot.

 

[MickZA]

Ubuntu 12.04 is pretty stable so I doubt the problem is driver related given that you had no problems initially.

Check the PC's RJ-45 port for damage and that all 8 "whisker" contacts are sitting at the same height, if all seems fine then it's likely a MB fault

 

[ponder]

I would have a look at the power management parameters of the LAN port for a start. I know in windows you can open the driver properties and then via some dropdown menu change certain parameters like duplex, speed, pm etc.

 

[SpoonTech]

Ubuntu 12.04 is pretty stable so I doubt the problem is driver related given that you had no problems initially.

Check the PC's RJ-45 port for damage and that all 8 "whisker" contacts are sitting at the same height, if all seems fine then it's likely a MB fault

I seem to disagree with this. The problem is potentially a hardware problem however I am almost certain it isn't. Ubuntu 12.04 may be stable, but that's just the OS. I think its a driver or firmware problem. I think the firmware or driver was updated and that is causing these problems. I may try and do a fresh windows install and see if the problem goes away, then I definately know its a driver/firmware issue.

I have found loads of posts on forums with similar issues for various Realtek Driver Versions, however my system seems quite new. The Haswell processors were launched after Ubuntu 12.04, and hence other components on the motherboards may be recent.

I will try and post the problem on some technical forums and see if I can find a solution. If the motherboard has an issue its a real pain to take about the whole system and return it.

 

[tnt11]

I seem to disagree with this. The problem is potentially a hardware problem however I am almost certain it isn't. Ubuntu 12.04 may be stable, but that's just the OS. I think its a driver or firmware problem. I think the firmware or driver was updated and that is causing these problems. I may try and do a fresh windows install and see if the problem goes away, then I definately know its a driver/firmware issue.

I have found loads of posts on forums with similar issues for various Realtek Driver Versions, however my system seems quite new. The Haswell processors were launched after Ubuntu 12.04, and hence other components on the motherboards may be recent.

I will try and post the problem on some technical forums and see if I can find a solution. If the motherboard has an issue its a real pain to take about the whole system and return it.

I agree. try the Ubuntu forum esp in regards to the specific realtek device number.

 

[bin3]

1 Gb NIC?

Try forcing it to 100Mb, see if it makes a difference.

Have you checked your cable / tried another cable? Funny how some times it is the small things ...

 

[SpoonTech]

Yeah I was going to try force the NIC to 100mbps. How do I do this?

 

[SpoonTech]

I have tried three different cables. I have also tried using macbook internet sharing instead of router direct. Funnily enough it seemed to work much better when connected to the macs ethernet port

 

[MickZA]

Still reckon the odds favour a HW problem, you could download a Fedora 19 live DVD to prove/disprove as I haven't seen any reports of problems with this chipset recently in the Fedora forums (plus we've probably got a few installed in the field).

Maybe your cheapest/easiest solution is an addon NIC assuming the PCI slot on your MB isn't in use, possibly:

http://shop.esquire.co.za/ProductDescription.aspx?id=955747

 

[tnt11]

Still reckon the odds favour a HW problem, you could download a Fedora 19 live DVD to prove/disprove as I haven't seen any reports of problems with this chipset recently in the Fedora forums (plus we've probably got a few installed in the field).

Maybe your cheapest/easiest solution is an addon NIC assuming the PCI slot on your MB isn't in use, possibly:

http://shop.esquire.co.za/ProductDescription.aspx?id=955747

Worth a shot, the latest Fedora will be closer to the edge than Ubuntu LTS.

 

[SpoonTech]

Fedora is a number of gigs and my ADSL usage is through the roof this month (2XX GB)... Been downloading a lot of Linux distro's. I have tried a Mint 15 live CD with no luck.

I am going to try and chat to the Gigabyte support as I have a 3 year warranty on my board. I can't bear the thought of having to take the processor off and store it somewhere while they replace the board. Probably better to just use a PCI NIC.. But I only have one extra PCI port and I wouldn't mind keeping it, for a WiFi card perhaps.

 

[SpoonTech]

Still reckon the odds favour a HW problem, you could download a Fedora 19 live DVD to prove/disprove as I haven't seen any reports of problems with this chipset recently in the Fedora forums (plus we've probably got a few installed in the field).

Maybe your cheapest/easiest solution is an addon NIC assuming the PCI slot on your MB isn't in use, possibly:

http://shop.esquire.co.za/ProductDescription.aspx?id=955747

I am tempted to just buy a PCI NIC, however I am concerned that other issues with the board may arise down the line.

 

[Hectic]

Have you tried to set the IP address manually?
The limited connectivity message will indicate that you are in the 169.X.X.X range.

You need it to be in the 192.168.X.X or 10.0.X.X, depending on the range as set in your router.

Every time I run into the problem where the DNCP server seemingly does not issue to correct address I set the particular pc to a manually assigned address and it usually works very well.
I know that this does not address the real problem/issue, but it is a working solution.

 

[SpoonTech]

Tried Setting the IP Address Manually, no success.
Removed the static IP set on the router side (which worked 100% fine for five weeks - no success)

I have tried to force 100 Mbps Full Duplex on the Windows machine and the connection worked for a few minutes. I shut the system down to try and do the same thing in Ubuntu. Ethtool in Ubuntu showed that the link speed was 10Mb/s Half Duplex which is strange.

I have found that if I connect to my MacBook ethernet port (MacBook WiFi sharing through ethernet enabled), and I disable and renable the network, it connects everytime, on both Ubuntu and Windows. If I run ethtool with the Mac connected I get:

Speed: 1000 Mb/s
Duplex: Full
Auto-negotiation: On
Link detected: yes

When connected via macbook I get SpeedTest.net stats of (13ms, 5.01 Mbps, 0,33 Mbps), which is acceptable for my 6mbps line. (The upload is normally 0.4 to 0.55 however I expect a slight slow down sharing the WiFi connection through another hop).

I am convinced it is not the router, as there are 3 other wired devices that haven't had a single problem, and there are another 10 or so devices connecting via wireless.

The problem seems somewhat strange, however I'm going to take it as hardware / bios at this stage based on the facts:
- Intermittent or non-existent connectivity.
- Showing cable not connected as opposed to other problems.
- The problem got gradually worse over a week or so, happening more and more frequently.
- Happens across two Operating Systems + Mint 15 live disc.
- Worked flawlessly for over a month before the problem began occuring.